Skip to main content

Omicron could force Scotland into even stricter measures, Sturgeon warns

THE spread of Covid-19’s omicron variant could force Scotland into even stricter measures, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned today as she tightened the rules on self-isolation.

The Scottish National Party leader said the country could face a “tsunami of infections” as Scottish government projections showed that, in the worst-case scenario, infections could surge to almost 25,000 a day by December 20.

From Saturday, household contacts of positive coronavirus cases in Scotland must self-isolate regardless of their vaccination status or a negative PCR test, Ms Sturgeon said, adding that she could not rule out introducing further restrictions.

She was due to take part in a Cobra meeting on the virus with Tory minister Michael Gove and the leaders of the other devolved nations this afternoon, where she was expected to raise the question of Treasury support for businesses.

The STUC said the Scottish government must be stricter with firms that continue to put workers at risk by unnecessarily denying them the ability to work from home, and called for legal powers to force compliance. 

General secretary Roz Foyer said workers were once again being asked to make judgements on whether to work from home “even where they know their employer will not be sympathetic. 

“The First Minister needs to instruct employers to comply and withdraw all government support from any companies that fail to do so.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the Scottish and British governments must work together to protect workers this winter as a potential third wave of the virus approaches.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today