Thread by @McAllister1973

The FM today updated Parliament on additional restrictions that the Scottish Government believes are necessary to get Covid back under control.

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She said: "In mid July, we were recording an average of 9 new cases a day. Around 4 weeks later, that had risen to an average of 52 cases a day. Three weeks after that, it was 102. Today it is 285."

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"We cannot be complacent about Covid. It kills too many old and vulnerable people. And for younger, healthier people, while the risks of dying from it are much lower - though not non-existent - it can still result in long term, serious health problems."

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"That’s why action to bring it back under control is necessary - and to bring the R number down again, the action we take now must go beyond the step we announced almost two weeks ago to restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings to 6 people from 2 households."

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"I also took part in this morning’s COBR meeting.

At that meeting, all four governments committed to suppressing the virus to the lowest possible level and keeping it there."

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"Following on from that meeting, measures to control the virus were agreed at Cabinet."

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"I can confirm that we will introduce measures on hospitality similar to those outlined for England by the Prime Minister a short while ago - and thereby align as far as possible with the rest of the U.K."

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"the advice given to the Cabinet by the Chief Medical Officer and the National Clinical Director is that this on its own will not be sufficient to bring the R number down. "

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"They stress that we must act, not just quickly and decisively, but also on a scale significant enough to have an impact on the spread of the virus.

"And they advise that we must take account of the fact that household interaction is a key driver of transmission."

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"To that end, we intend - as Northern Ireland did yesterday - to also introduce nationwide additional restrictions on household gatherings, similar to those already in place in the West of Scotland."

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"And it is essential that we think in terms of priorities. Faced with a global pandemic of an infectious and dangerous virus, it is not possible to do everything and to live our lives completely normally. No country is able to do that just now."

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"We are determined to keep schools open and young people in education. That is vital to the health, wellbeing and future prospects of every young person in the country."

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"We must restart as many previously paused NHS services as possible, so that more people can get the non COVID treatment they need. Our NHS must be equipped this winter to care for those who have COVID - and it will be."

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"We must protect people’s jobs and livelihoods - that means keeping businesses open and trading as normally as is feasible."

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"To achieve all of that, we must stop the virus from spiralling out of control and we can only do that if we accept restrictions in other aspects of our lives."

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"The measures I am announcing today are tough - I will not pretend otherwise - but they do not represent a full scale lockdown of the kind imposed in March."

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"So let me set out the package of measures we hope can bring Covid back under control.

"Firstly, everyone who can work from home, should work from home."

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"To employers, if you have encouraged workers back to the office who could be working from home, please rethink that."

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"We want employers to comply with this advice voluntarily as the vast majority do. But if necessary we will put a legal duty on businesses to allow home working where possible."

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"We intend, through media and social media, to reinforce the central importance of the FACTS advice - face coverings, avoiding crowded places, cleaning hands and hard surfaces, keeping two metre distance and self isolating and booking a test if you have symptoms."

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"We will introduce a package of support for people who are asked to self isolate. Self isolation of people with symptoms awaiting a test, people who test positive and household and close contacts of such people is essential to breaking the chains of transmission."

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"We are working with local authorities to ensure that when someone is asked by Test & Protect to self isolate, they will be contacted proactively and offered essential practical support - for example help with delivery of food and other essentials."

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"Most importantly, we will introduce financial support of £500 for those on low incomes.

"More detail of this scheme will be published shortly.

"As I said yesterday, we will keep issues of enforcement for non compliance with self isolation under review."

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"Our judgment at this stage - particularly given the spirit of solidarity that is so essential in our fight against this virus - is that supporting people to do the right thing is more effective than threatening harsh punishment if they can’t."

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"We will introduce a strict nationwide curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants.

"From Friday, pubs, bars and restaurants will be required to close at 10pm. "

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"If the Scottish Government had greater powers to borrow money, or the ability to extend the Job Retention Scheme, for example, it is possible that we would reach a different balance of judgment on some of these issues."

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"I want to thank those businesses that are making huge efforts to ensure compliance. To ensure this is the case for all, we will be providing resources for additional Environmental Health Officers and asking local authorities to step up inspection and enforcement."

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"We have decided that from tomorrow, to be reviewed after three weeks, and with exceptions that I will come on to, visiting other households will not be permitted."

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"To be clear, this extends the restriction that has been in place across the West of Scotland for the last three weeks to all of Scotland. Regulations giving effect to this change will come into force on Friday, but I am asking people to comply from tomorrow."

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"One of the reasons we have decided to do this is that our early data suggests this restriction is starting to slow the increase of cases in the West of Scotland."

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"So if we extend it nationwide now, in an early and preventative way, we hope it will help to bring the R number down and the virus back under control."

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"There will be exceptions for those living alone, or alone with children, who form extended households; for couples in non-cohabiting relationships; for the provision of informal childcare by, for example, grandparents; and for tradespeople."

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"Rules for meeting other people in public indoor spaces that are subject to strict regulation and guidance, remain the same – you can meet with one other household only and in groups of no more than 6 people. "

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"You can also continue to meet with one other household in groups of up to 6 outdoors, including in private gardens."

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"Outdoors, though, we intend to exempt children under 12 - both from the limit of 6 and the limit of two households. There will be no limits on the ability of children under 12 to play together outdoors."

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"And young people aged 12 to 18 will be exempt from the two household limit - they will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to 6, though we will need to monitor this carefully."

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"And let me say to teenagers in particular - I know how miserable this is for you and you have been so patient. We are trying to give you as much flexibility as we can. In return, please work with us and do your best to stick to the rules, for everyone’s sake."

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"The last new restriction I want to cover today relates to travelling by car. We know that sharing car journeys presents a significant risk of transmission.

"We are therefore advising against car sharing with people outside your own household. "

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"It is also important that I indicate today, in light of the current situation, that the routemap changes with an indicative date of 5 October are unlikely to go ahead on that timescale."

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"I want now to touch briefly on an issue that has been the subject of media speculation in recent days - namely the possibility of a so called circuit breaker during which people would be given much more comprehensive advice to stay at home."

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"The Scottish Government has not made any decision at this stage to implement such a policy - however, we are actively keeping it under review.

"Please think of the October break as an opportunity to further limit social interaction."

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"Given that this is a global pandemic, please do not book travel overseas for the October break if it is not essential."

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"Let me say a few words to people who were shielding earlier in the year. I know you will be feeling particularly anxious. The best way to keep you safe is by reducing the spread of the virus in our communities – which is what today’s measures are all about."

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"These are the changes we are making now. I can’t rule out the need to make more - nationally or locally - in the weeks to come.

"Indeed, we intend to publish soon an overall strategic approach to escalation in areas with particularly high rates of transmission."

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"Inevitably, some will think they go too far and others that they don’t go far enough.

"But we have tried to get the balance right - and to act urgently and in a substantial and preventative way now to try to get the situation under control quickly."

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"But today’s measures – although tough - are not a lockdown. They are carefully targeted at key sources of transmission. And we believe they can make a significant difference, while keeping our schools, public services and as many businesses as possible open."

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"The success of these measures depends on all of us.

"The decisions that we all make as individuals in the weeks ahead, will determine whether they work, and how quickly they can be lifted."

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"None of us can guarantee that we won’t get Covid, or pass it on. But we can all make choices which significantly reduce our own risk, and help to keep our communities safer."

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"So please, make those choices. Stick with this."

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"Please don’t meet people in their homes or your home - because that is where the virus often spreads.

"Limit how often you meet up with people in public places - and abide by the rules in force there.

"Work from home if you can."

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"Follow the advice on self isolation if you have symptoms, test positive, or are a contact of someone who has the virus.

"Download the Protect Scotland app.

"And when you do meet other people, remember FACTS at all times."

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"Face coverings in enclosed spaces.

"Avoid crowded places.

"Clean your hands and hard surfaces.

"Keep 2 metre distance from other households.

"And self isolate and book a test if you have symptoms."

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"Keeping to all these rules isn’t easy – but they remain the best way for all of us to protect ourselves, each other, the NHS and ultimately save lives."

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"We should never forget that humanity has come through even bigger challenges than this - and it did so without the benefits of modern technology that allow us to stay connected while physically apart."

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"This pandemic will pass.

"It won’t last forever and one day, hopefully soon, we will be looking back on it, not living through it.

"So though we are all struggling with this - and believe me, we all are - let’s pull together."

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"Let’s keep going, try to keep smiling, keep hoping and keep looking out for each other.

"Be strong, be kind and let’s continue to act out of love and solidarity."

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"I will never be able to thank all of you enough for the sacrifices you have made so far.

"And I am sorry to have to ask for more.

"But if we stick with it - and stick together - I do know we will get through this."

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Clarification: This applies to under 18's i.e. those aged between 12 years old and 17 years old inclusive.

Apologies for the typo.