Nicola Sturgeon will likely announce a new set of Covid restrictions today for Scotland that could potentially cost the economy a quarter billion pounds during Christmas.
This afternoon, the First Minister will make an announcement about whether additional measures are needed to combat the Omicron variant’s growing spread.
One day after Humza Yousaf, SNP health secretary, stated that stricter rules are ‘inevitable’, there is talk of the return to social distancing as well as limiting indoor meetings.
However, schools will remain open. The vaccine passport scheme for Scotland isn’t expected to be restricted beyond large nightclubs and other venues.
Boris Johnson, England’s Tory rebel over mandatory face masks, and vaccine passports, could come under fire.
The Scottish Tories demanded that a “cancellation compensation” scheme be established for hospitality venues such as pubs or restaurants when they are busiest.
Leon Thompson, the executive director for UKHospitality Scotland said that existing regulations were already causing businesses a huge hit.
He stated that members had quoted rates of cancellation between 30% and 100% and are still coming to events and gatherings in the future.
“This is a devastating blow to businesses who need to continue to make a living and get through winter.
‘The industry was initially looking at multi-million-pound losses but over the weekend that has become greater and taking in the supply chain we’re now looking at the losses rising to £1billion.’
This afternoon, the First Minister will make an announcement about whether additional measures are needed to combat the Omicron variant’s growing spread.
Boris Johnson could be under pressure in England if he makes any move that would put him in jeopardy over his plans to introduce mandatory facial masks and vaccination passports at some locations, which are already in effect in Scotland.
The announcement comes one day after Humza Yousaf (SNP Health Secretary) said that stricter rules are ‘inevitable.
Liz Smith, Shadow Finance Secretary: “Scottish Jobs will be at Risk if Small Businesses lose thousands of Pounds of Vital Revenue that they Expected to Receive.”
“This is the latest setback for Covid at a time when businesses are busiest. They require more support from SNP who seem to have been trying to pass along the buck.
The SNP Government is not like small businesses in that it does not face cash flow problems. Their accounts have sufficient money to fund an emergency cancelation compensation fund in order to safeguard jobs.
Speaking ahead of the Holyrood Statement, Ms Sturgeon warned that certain measures may need to be “targeted” and “property” in order for families to have Christmas together.
On Tuesday, Holyrood will hear a Statement from the First Minister. It will include any proposed new measures and an update to the Scottish Parliament regarding the booster vaccination program.
She explained that “we need to try and protect people’s ability Christmas with their family, and I am personally hoping to see a more normal Christmas for everyone in the country than last year.”
“But, we must balance that with our need to keep people safe in the lead up to and through the winter, as well as into 2022.
The virus Omicron has now mutated, making it more transmissible than any other strain we have ever seen. Our estimation is that this will be Scotland’s dominant strain by the end of the week.
“We need to see this as a race between vaccine and virus. We are challenging ourselves to get booster jabs in people’s arms faster while also considering how we can slow down spread.
“The best thing we all can do, along with regular testing, is to get vaccinated.
“I am sure many people have booked their booster appointments. But I know that others may have had difficulty getting an appointment. Keep trying! Every effort is made to increase capacity and we are creating more appointments every day.
“We’re working around the clock with our health boards to examine all possibilities for speeding up vaccination. These options include more vaccinations, more support at vaccine centres, more facility on-line, more military assistance from the UK Government, and bringing in more doctors.
I am aware of the devastating impact that this crisis has already had on the lives of people. Any steps to stop the spread of it will be as specific and proportionately as possible. On Tuesday, Cabinet will review the available options. I will then provide more details for Parliament.
Scotland had 26 Omicron-related cases on Monday. This brings the overall total to 186.
Ms Sturgeon addressed MSPs last Wednesday and stressed the importance of ensuring that any extra protections are under constant review due to Omicron, which is’significantly more transmissible than ever before’.
“I really hope that we can avoid further measures,” said the First Minister.
“It is impossible to guarantee that, however, any person responsible in my situation could never guarantee this.”
Elle stated that it was important to be open to all proportionate measures, including a possible extension to vaccine passports.
Douglas Ross of the Scottish Conservatives, after the coronavirus statements to Holyrood by the First Minister, reiterated the need for mass vaccination centres
On Monday, Mr Yousaf spoke to BBC’s Good Morning Scotland that he believed it was inevitable that additional protective measures would be announced.
The Scottish Conservatives reaffirmed their call for mass vaccination centers ahead of the coronavirus declaration by the First Minister to Holyrood.
Douglas Ross was the party leader. He stated that the Scottish Conservatives had been calling for the opening of mass vaccination centers in order to increase the booster vaccine rollout.
Ross stated that speeding up booster jag rollout was ‘likely the key difference between avoiding and introducing stricter regulations’. He also said: “The rapid rollout mass vaccination centres and more drop in clinics is now a necessity.
“It is vital that the booster program accelerates in order to win the race against the virus.
Jackie Baillie spokeswoman for Scottish Labour on Covid recovery and health. She stated that: “It is clear we are now in the most fragile situation we have been in in months.”
“We must act now in order to save lives and protect people’s livelihoods. We also need to keep Christmas restrictions at a minimum.
“This includes accelerating the booster program urgently in order to reach our new goal, equipping Test and Protect for the anticipated tsunami of cases, and supporting businesses that are hard hit during this tough time.
“We must not be afraid to make difficult decisions when they are needed – however, all rules should be consistent and clear.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said that after months of pestering the Health secretary, we now have an ambitious goal for increasing booster vaccines. However, we need to give frontline NHS staff the extra resources they require, financial protections to small businesses in particular, and steps to make sure everyone can get mental health care during difficult times.
He warned against the extension of Scotland’s vaccination passport program to include more locations, saying they “give people a potentially fatal false sense of security”.