UK News Nicola Sturgeon is rocked by coronavirus lockdown backlash
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Nicola Sturgeon extends the coronavirus lockdown in Scotland and says the stay at home message should remain in place. It has been suggested that Boris Johnson could scrap the slogan as part of moves to ease some lockdown rules. Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government may be prepared to
Nicola Sturgeon has said the coronavirus lockdown is likely to be extended when it is reviewed this week. (PA Images). The Scottish first minister told a press conference the virus infection rate is still too high to safely ease restrictions. She said: “Let me stress, decisions are yet to formally be taken, it is

Nicola Sturgeon is facing a backlash over her plans for a five-tier system of restrictions which could put millions in almost full lockdown.
The First Minister is to take a harsher approach than Boris Johnson in imposing regional lockdowns to battle Covid-19.
Tomorrow she is expected to set out her five-tier strategy, with the highest level potentially placing large areas under restrictions similar to the full lockdown in March.
Pubs, restaurants and retailers say they face a catastrophic winter amid dire predictions that two-thirds of hospitality firms could close.
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New coronavirus restrictions for Scotland will be announced on Wednesday - but it will not be another full lockdown , Nicola Sturgeon has said. Options for a so-called "circuit-breaker" to slow the spread of the virus were discussed by the Scottish cabinet on Tuesday morning. But the first minister said
Nicola Sturgeon has announced that the closure of pubs and restaurants in the central belt, will be extended by one week. The first minister said these coronavirus restrictions will be in place until November the 2nd in Scotland.
The licensed trade said businesses had been kept 'completely in the dark' about the fresh wave of regulations, and warned the sector was 'staring into the abyss', with thousands of jobs at risk.


The First Minister also refused to rule out school closures in badly affected areas, saying 'blended learning' could be reintroduced under extreme circumstances.
It came as Scotland recorded its deadliest day since May, with 28 deaths linked to Covid-19 registered in 24 hours.
A further 1,739 people tested positive, with 49 patients admitted to hospital. There are now 73 people in intensive care units across the country.
The new five-tier system is due to be rolled out on November 2.
Miss Sturgeon said current restrictions on pubs and restaurants would remain in place until then.
According to business bosses, they had been assured that the First Minister would remain 'as closely aligned with the rest of the UK as possible'.
But her comments yesterday revealed she is willing to impose far harsher restrictions than those in England.
Paul Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, warned: 'Hundreds of businesses are facing permanent closure and with that thousands of jobs will be lost – the damage could be irreparable.
'We estimate that two-thirds of hospitality businesses could be mothballed or go under in the coming months. Over 50 per cent of jobs in the pub and bar sector could also be lost.'
During her Covid briefing yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said: 'Let me explain the logic for the five tiers, which I think is very strong.
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Nicola Sturgeon introduced a circuit-breaker earlier this month and has since proposed a new five-tier system. But experts warn the measures did 'not get at the fundamentals'.Nicola Sturgeon introduced a 16-day circuit-breaker which forced pubs and licensed restaurants in five health board areas across the central belt to close - impacting 3.4 million people - earlier this month.
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'The middle three tiers will be broadly equivalent to the three tiers in England which they describe as medium, high and very high.
'We think we need one at the bottom, which is the level we would be aspiring to this side of getting a vaccine, which is closest to normality we could reasonably expect.
'We think it's important to have that until we all know what we're working towards. We also think we need another one [tier] at the top.'
Miss Sturgeon said that when Mr Johnson published his tier system, his Chief Medical Officer thought the top level was 'not enough to necessarily, in all circumstances, get the virus down'.
She said Scotland's top level would be closer to the 'full lockdown' imposed across the country in March, but at a local level.
Miss Sturgeon signalled that schools would remain open in the top tier but depending on circumstances 'a move to blended learning in some council areas could be required'.
The highest tier in England includes a ban on socialising with other households both indoors and outdoors.
Pubs and bars are closed unless they operate as restaurants, with alcohol only served alongside a substantial meal.
Last night, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association hit out at Miss Sturgeon's plans.
A spokesman said: 'There's huge concern from businesses who are now completely in the dark about when they might be able to reopen again.
'We don't know how many tiers there will be, what the restrictions will be in each, or which areas are going to be in which tiers.
'The closure was meant to be temporary, but the announcement today and potential for further restrictions has left the trade staring into the abyss.'
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A recent study revealed nearly 40 per cent of hospitality firms are considering closure.
Meanwhile, retailers demanded 'clarity' about the five-tier system as the Christmas period approaches.


Scottish Retail Consortium director David Lonsdale said: 'We have consistently called for greater visibility and clarity over potential next steps when it comes to future Covid restrictions, particularly in the run-up to the critical Christmas trading period.'
Scottish Tory health spokesman Brian Whittle said: 'Businesses can't go through another confusing SNP debacle like the one they're still facing over what's a café and what's a restaurant.
'Any confusion would only make it more difficult for people and businesses to do their bit to suppress the virus.'
Miss Sturgeon will tomorrow reveal details of financial support for the businesses affected in coming months.
She said this would be 'broadly similar' to that offered south of the Border by the UK Government.
Miss Sturgeon added that she was urgently seeking to speak to the UK Treasury to enhance the spending packages.
Pubs face last orders: Business owners 'feel betrayed over devastating week extension'
Pubs, bars and restaurants have warned they face 'devastating' consequences after Scotland's two-week circuit breaker was extended by Nicola Sturgeon.
The hospitality sector yesterday claimed it had been 'betrayed' by the First Minister after she had 'gone back' on her word over the restrictions.
The current measures were meant to end on Monday, but Miss Sturgeon said she had made the 'harsh' decision to extend them until November 2.
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This will see all licensed premises except cafes in the Central Belt forced to remain closed for an additional week.
Other restrictions such as a ban on indoor gym classes and contact sports for adults will also remain in place across the five health board areas – including Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Lothian.
In other parts of Scotland, restaurants and pubs can stay open between 6am and 6pm – but alcohol is only allowed to be served until 10pm outside.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said: 'This news is absolutely devastating for the sector.
'We were told that these measures were to be 'short' and 'sharp' but now the Scottish Government have gone back on that, leaving operators feeling betrayed.
'The extension of the economic support is welcome, but still in no way makes up for the lost income of another week fully closed. The trade now feels even more let down by the Government and unfairly targeted by the measures which are costing jobs and livelihoods.
'Scotland's pubs and bars have repeatedly been subject to some of the most penalising restrictions in the world, but without the evidence to back it up. The situation cannot continue.'
Speaking at her briefing yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said she had agreed, with her Cabinet, to extend the short-term restrictions to ensure a 'smooth transition' to the new five-tier system which will come into force on November 2.
Announcing the extension, she said: 'I know all of this is really unwelcome and I know that these restrictions are harsh.
'They are harsh financially for many individuals and businesses, and they are harsh emotionally for all of us.
'I want to stress again none of these decisions are being taken lightly – this is about trying to minimise the health damage we know this virus is capable of doing.'
But business bosses hit out at the move, with Liz Cameron of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce saying that the hospitality sector would be 'absolutely devastated that restrictions now look to be in place indefinitely'.
She said: 'We were advised that temporary restrictions would help to reduce the spread of the virus. But now the temporary restrictions have been extended, which make it impossible for businesses to rebuild and protect jobs.
'This short-term reactive approach is no longer enough. Where is the plan that we can all get alongside to help the Scottish Government to both manage the virus and ensure the economy can also return to health?'
Campaign for Real Ale spokesman Joe Crawford said that the announcement was a 'hammer blow' to pubs and breweries 'who feel like they're being offered up as a sacrificial lamb without sufficient evidence'.
Last night, hospitality bosses launched a Save Our Jobs campaign following Miss Sturgeon's announcement.
It demands support from the Scottish and UK Governments to ensure up to 100,000 jobs are not lost in bars and restaurants across the country when the furlough scheme ends on October 31.
Michelin-star chef Tom Kitchin, Signature Group boss Nic Wood –the head of one of Scotland's biggest pub groups – and other hospitality sector bosses and staff have joined the campaign.
Mr Kitchin said: 'Our industry is in real need of help, especially having only just partly recovered from the first lockdown.
'Eliminating the risks of the virus is our greatest concern, but there needs to be a balance for the hospitality future of Scotland.'
Mr Wood said that he hopes the campaign will highlight the plight of the young hospitality workforce, with 50 per cent of all staff aged between 16 and 24.
The Scottish Government has provided £40million to affected businesses over the original 16-day closure period, and Miss Sturgeon said this would be extended on a 'proportionate' basis.
Research shows that the industry spent around £15million on training and implementing social-distancing measures across the entire sector to reopen businesses and rebuild consumer confidence.
However, a large number of licensed premises have not reopened at all since March as they would not be viable as a result of a decrease in their capacity in order to adhere to social distancing regulations.
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