"You're guests in London" First Minister urges Tartan Army to take care
Thousands of Scotland fans are in the capital for the Euro 2020 clash with England
Last updated 18th Jun 2021
Coronavirus is not a fan of Scotland or England's men's football team, Nicola Sturgeon has said as she urged fans to be careful during Friday's match.
The two teams will clash at Wembley in their second Euro 2020 game on Friday, the latest instalment in football's oldest rivalry.
"You're guests in London"
But, speaking during her coronavirus media briefing in Edinburgh, the First Minister urged those in London to take care: “You’re guests in London, so make sure you behave in a way that shows the Tartan Army at it’s best.
“Enjoy, but please, please, try to be as safe as possible.”
"Be careful if, or hopefully when, Scotland score some goals"
She also offered advice to those of us who’ll be watching the game north of the border, particularly those who’ll be in someone else’s house.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Remember to take the basic precautions, keep the windows open, wash your hands regularly and please be especially careful around people who are not yet fully vaccinated or who might be more vulnerable.
“And be careful if, or hopefully when, Scotland score some goals.”
She added: “I know these precautions are tiresome for everybody in every context and they're particularly tiresome when people are trying to enjoy the normal pleasures of a football match.
“But this virus, it doesn't care about football - it's not a Scotland fan or an England fan, it only cares about spreading from one person to another.”
Further travel guidance issued
The First Minister also gave some updated travel guidance coming into force to help slow the spread of the virus.
Non-essential travel from Scotland to Manchester and Salford will be banned from Monday.
Due to “high levels of Covid” the Scottish Government added the two cities to a list that already includes Bolton and Blackburn.
“Anyone travelling elsewhere in the Greater Manchester or Lancashire area, I'd ask to think carefully about whether your journey is really necessary, because we do see cases rising across that region,'' the First Minister said at the coronavirus briefing.
Meanwhile, travel bans to the English town of Bedford and the Republic of Ireland will be removed.
Another 950 coronavirus cases were registered in Scotland between Thursday and Friday, representing 3.5% of all tests.
There have been two more confirmed deaths, but hospital numbers are down slightly and ICU numbers remain unchanged.