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Nicola Sturgeon reveals Nando’s -style five tiered coronavirus alert system for Scotland
NICOLA Sturgeon sparked more chaos and confusion today as she revealed a Nando's-style FIVE-tiered coronavirus alert system for Scotland which could plunge them all into a stricter lockdown.
The First Minister outlined fresh systems which will come into place after the national circuit-breaker lockdown ends on November 2, the top tiers of which come close to the national measures announced back in March.
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The new system features five levels of measures - from "level zero" to four - to be applied in different areas of Scotland depending on the spread of the virus.
One person on Twitter said: "Scotland has gone full Nando's."
The top level would be close to a full lockdown like back in March, but the aim is for schools to remain open at all times if possible.
She said a higher tier was needed after English medics admitted that the top rung might not be enough to get cases right down again.
However, she warned "it is possible that the whole country could be placed in the same level" if cases continue to spread.
The levels will be reviewed on a weekly basis.
Ms Sturgeon said today the new system "seeks to tackle the direct threat to life as a result of Covid.";
And she added: "We must strike the best balance we can in terms of minimizing the overall harm.
"But if we allow the virus to run out of control, all the harms I have talked about will be made worse."
Parliament will debate the measures on Tuesday.
Everyone who has previously been shielding will also get extra help and support - though she didn't say when they would be told to stay inside once again.
She also revealed that care home visitors, carers and anyone admitted to hospital will be able to get extra Covid testing in future to try and stop the spread.
The Scottish Government will also ramp up testing of people with no symptoms to try and clamp down on possible outbreaks.
And as announced in England yesterday, Scottish businesses will be able to get access to extra grants to help them cope with the new rules - yet she said it was not an endless pot of cash and would certainly run out.
But the First Minister took a side swipe at the UK Government for not announcing any extra cash - and the Scots are unable to borrow.
She fumed: "Not a single penny of extra funding beyond that already allocated has been guaranteed for Scotland as a result of yesterday’s announcement.
"So while I am not prepared to offer businesses here less funding than their counter parts in England get, I have to be clear on this point.
"Without a resolution to the point I have just highlighted, the money that the Scottish government has to pay for this guarantee will eventually run out."
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Businesses in Scotland have faced an extra curfew in the three-week circuit break she announced earlier this month.
Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes are only allowed to serve indoor customers between 6am and 6pm but they must not serve booze.
Alcoholic drinks can be served outside up until 10pm, however.
And even stricter rules in the central belt were put in place - banning booze and shutting down pubs and bars completely.
Twenty-six per cent of the results of people newly tested came back positive, Ms Sturgeon revealed today at the daily coronavirus briefing.
The daily test positivity rate is 8 per cent, down slightly from 9.2 per cent on Thursday.
Scotland has recorded 18 deaths from coronavirus and 1,401 positive tests in the past 24 hours.
A total of 54,016 cases have been reported now in Scotland - and 2,688 deaths.
The number of people going into intensive care have risen by 50 per cent in the last week, she also said, painting a worrying picture of the nation's health.
The tiered system mimics Boris Johnson's three tiered approach which he revealed last week, and has come into effect across England.
But tiers one and two in the Scottish model are very similar - and the additional higher level also moves closer to the full national shutdown like earlier this year.
Ms Sturgeon said today: "I know that hospitality businesses especially hard hit will want to argue that different types of premises should be open at different levels of interventions.
"I can’t promise we will be able to accommodate every request whilst still suppressing the virus but I can promise that we will listen.
"None of us want to be imposing restrictions to business or individuals that are not absolutely necessary."
The news comes after yesterday the Scottish First Minister made a bizaare promise to Scottish kids that Santa would sitll come this year - despite Covid.
Her top medical adviser, Jason Leith, said hopes of a traditional family get-together might now be "fiction" after the spike in cases.
Ms Sturgeon had reassured kids: "On Santa, if there are any kids watching: Santa will not be prevented from delivering your presents on Christmas Eve, Santa is a key worker and he has got lots of magic powers that make him safe to do that. "
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At a press conference earlier this week the PM said the R rate - which is thought to be between 1.3 and 1.5 - was around half of what it would be if there were no rules and restrictions put on the country.
He said the new tiered system is beginning to work.
However, due to the time lag in reporting cases and infections, the R rate is still around three weeks behind today's data.
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The country is following a "middle course" instead which is being followed by other countries around the world, he said - not the circuit breaker which Labour's Sir Keir Starmer has demanded repeatedly.
"It is better to keep the economy going, so the UK can bounce back as strongly as possible once we get the virus back under control," he added.
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Nicola Sturgeon says Santa is a key worker and will still deliver presents to children as she calls CMO Jason Leitch the Grinch