Nicola Sturgeon has warned Scotland’s beauty spots remain strictly off limits to people in England, after restrictions on travel for daily exercise were lifted south of the border.
The first minister said anyone travelling from elsewhere in the UK for non-essential reasons could be “potentially in breach of the law” as she reiterated the ‘stay at home’ message remains in force for people in Scotland.
New UK Government rules on lockdown mean people living in England can now drive for leisure and stay outdoors for unlimited periods of time, so long as they maintain social distancing with other households.
However, a guidance document published on Monday cautioned individuals not to visit Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland “where it would be inconsistent with guidance or regulations issued by the relevant devolved administration”.
Concerns had been raised prior to travel restrictions being introduced about the impact on rural communities of people travelling to the north of Scotland with campervans in a bid to avoid coronavirus.
At her daily briefing in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon insisted it was “not okay” to drive to Scotland and visit remote beauty spots.
“If you live in the Scottish Borders and you come across the border to go to the supermarket, you would certainly not be breaking the law if you were getting food, that’s an essential purpose,” she said.
“If you live just south of the border and you work in an essential job then equally that is perfectly legitimate. But if you are coming to Scotland and are not covered by those essential purposes, then you potentially would be in breach of the law.”
Ms Sturgeon also used her daily briefing to announce a further five laboratory-confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in Scotland, taking the total to 1,862. She said 13,627 people had tested positive for the virus, a rise of 141 from the day before.
There were 1,453 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, down 31 from 1,484 the previous day. Of these patients, 80 were in intensive care, a fall of two.
Speaking earlier in the day, the first minister urged Scots not to be distracted by messages from other parts of the UK and warned the “very vague” strategy announced by Boris Johnson on Sunday would cost lives if it was adopted in Scotland.
She stressed the prime minister “has an obligation to be very clear” in his messaging and said the ‘stay alert’ messaging is “very vague” compared to ‘stay at home’.
Mr Johnson faced criticism from devolved administrations for dropping the slogan on Sunday night and then failing to explain in clear terms that his lockdown plans apply only to people living in England.
Ms Sturgeon said moving at different speeds in different parts of the UK based on good evidence “need not be a cause for confusion” but added “never has the duty on political leaders to communicate clearly been greater”.
The Scottish Government also announced a new platform to help health and social care workers and carers look after their physical and mental health.
The new digital wellbeing hub is the first of its kind in the UK, and its content has been created by trauma and other specialists in Scotland.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Protecting health and social care staff, wherever they work, continues to be a priority for the Scottish Government and this includes doing all we can to protect people’s mental health.
“That is why, in addition to the wellbeing hub, we will also be providing staff with access to coaching and the opportunity to shape our future policies through a new workforce wellbeing champion network.”
