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The First Minister advises a three household limit on gatherings in the countdown to Christmas as Covid R number spirals to four


By Pat Scott

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PEOPLE are being asked to reduce the contact they have with people in other households around Christmas as the Scottish Government tries to bring under control the spread of the Omicron variant.

In an address to the Scottish Parliament, this afternoon, First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon asked that people limit the number of households gathering to a maximum of three but said the limit did not apply to people's main Christmas celebration - whether that was Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

Shops and pubs will be legally required to take measures to minimise the risk of transmission.

In retail there will be a return to physical distancing and protective screens.

The number of people affected by the Omicron variant is rising rapidly.
The number of people affected by the Omicron variant is rising rapidly.

For hospitality it means avoiding crowds at bars and between tables and greater attention paid to collecting contact details for track and trace.

More people must work from home to reduce their contacts and where working from home is not an option people should sign up to an extended workplace testing scheme which delivers lateral flow tests twice a week.

Ms Sturgeon warned that if cases surge to 10,000 a day, which was possible, there would be an impact on the economy and the ability to deliver critical services.

People are urged to get the booster for added protection against the Omicron variant.
People are urged to get the booster for added protection against the Omicron variant.

She said a £100 million fund had been found with "some difficulty" to help affected businesses and a further £100m of Self Isolation Support was also announced.

The new measures were announced as she revealed that the doubling time of the Omicron variant was two to three days and the R number above four.

The aim is that by December 31, everyone will have been able to book a booster appointment.


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