Yahoo News Aberdeen has lockdown restrictions reimposed after 54 new cases of coronavirus
Lockdown restrictions have been reimposed in Aberdeen after 54 new cases emerged in a coronavirus cluster.
Speaking at a briefing in Edinburgh, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said pubs and restaurants would be forced to closed this afternoon as part of the crackdown.
She said that the rise in cases has contributed to a greater fear their was a “significant outbreak” in the city.
More than 20 pubs and restaurants are involved in the cluster, she added.
A list of the venues involved will be published later today.
The renewed restrictions now apply across the Aberdeen City Council area.
A five-mile travel rule has been put in place and residents are being told not to enter each other’s houses.
All indoor and outdoor hospitality has also been told to close by 5pm.
The First Minister said people should not travel to the city, but those who are already there can remain.
The closure will be backed by Scottish government regulations and will be enforced if the rules are not followed, she confirmed.
Ms Sturgeon added that the changes will be reviewed in a week's time, when she hopes they can be removed either fully or in part.
However, if necessary, she said they could be extended beyond the seven-day period.
The First Minister told the briefing that she was aware the changes were ”deeply, deeply unwelcome news”.
She added: “The last thing we want to do is to reimpose these restrictions but this outbreak is reminding us just how highly infectious Covid is.
“Our precautionary and careful judgement is that we need to take decisive action now, difficult as that undoubtedly is, in order to try to contain this outbreak and prevent further harm later on.
She added: "This is about doing all we can to ensure our children can return to schools next week.
“Acting now, we judge, gives us the time and the space to protect the ability of our young people to return to education.”
In more positive news, Scotland has now gone 20 days with no new confirmed deaths from the virus.
The nation's official death toll therefore remains at 2,491.
Across the country, 18,781 people have so far tested positive for the virus – up by 64 from 18,717 the day before.
Today's decision comes as laws enforcing lockdown restrictions in areas of the north of England including Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire took effect.
The localised rules ban people from different households meeting in a private home or garden following a spike in coronavirus cases in the region.
The legislation imposes restrictions on metropolitan, city and borough council areas in: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, Calderdale and Kirklees.
Anyone found flouting the rules could be fined £100 up to a maximum of £3,200 for repeat offences.
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