First Minister says UK nations might move at different speeds in easing lockdown
At her Daily briefing, Nicola Sturgeon pleaded with us not to take any risks by flouting restrictions this weekend
The First Minister has said the four UK nations may need to move at different speeds on easing lockdown restrictions, as she urged people in Scotland to stick with the current rules.
Prime Minster Boris Johnson spoke with the leaders of the devolved nations on Thursday, ahead of an expected announcement on easing parts of the lockdown in England on Sunday.
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced three “modest adjustments” from Monday to restrictions there.
But Ms Sturgeon has said the only change being considered in Scotland is allowing people to leave their house for exercise more than once a day.
Speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing on Friday, she said there was a “helpful recognition” in her call with the Prime Minister that the “four UK nations may well move at different speeds if our data about the spread of the virus says that that is necessary to suppress it”.
Ms Sturgeon said after talks with the PM on Thursday about his plans that she expects any differences between the nations to be initially “quite minor”.
She stressed: “I wouldn't anticipate a radical departure in the immediate term, if the sense I am getting from the UK Government now turns out to be the reality.”
But she added that planning and messaging would continue to be co-ordinated.
The Scottish Government said its data suggests the R-number is higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK - with this estimated to be between 0.7 and 1 in Scotland, compared to between 0.5 and 0.9 in the UK.
The First Minister also gave the latest Covid-19 statistics.
A total of 1,811 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 49 from 1,762 on Thursday.
The First Minister said 13,149 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 225 from 12,924 the day before.
There are 84 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, and 1,584 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of three.
Chief constable Iain Livingstone was also in attendance at the briefing, saying that communities across Scotland have “stepped forward” during the pandemic.
He said there were “high levels” of compliance with policing during the lockdown, and surveys have suggested that support for policing is higher than usual.
The chief constable added: “It's my plea today, underlining what the First Minister has said, for everyone to continue exercising the self-discipline, commitment and common sense which has thus far served us well.
“It is essential to protect the National Health Service and save lives; please stick with it.”
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