Nicola Sturgeon has addressed speculation regarding apparent national lockdown restrictions which could be enforced in England in just a few days.
Reports suggest Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce the measures for England – which could see everywhere except essential shops and education settings closed for a month – at a press conference on Monday.
According to The Times, the PM is considering imposing the new measures from Wednesday, and they will last until December 1.
It is understood that Downing Street has now launched an investigation to find the source of the story, amid reports that the Government had wanted to keep the plan quiet until Monday.
Now, Scotland’s First Minister has addressed the unfolding situation, and says the Scottish Government will consider data on the spread of coronavirus ‘in the coming days’.
She said developments in England will be taken into consideration.
“Prevalence of the virus is currently lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK and there are early signs that the tough restrictions in place since we moved quickly in late September have started to slow the rate of increase,” Ms Sturgeon wrote in a Twitter thread on Saturday.
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“We will base decisions on circumstances here – though what happens just across our border is clearly not irrelevant to our considerations. In coming days @scotgov will consider data on the spread of the virus, as we always do, and take account of any developments in England.
Re speculation about lockdown in England –
1/ Prevalence of the virus is currently lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK and there are early signs that the tough restrictions in place since we moved quickly in late September have started to slow the rate of increase…— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
“Amongst other factors, this consideration will…
