Tiered coronavirus alert system to be outlined this week

The Scottish Government’s strategy for tackling coronavirus through the winter will be published this week.

Nicola Sturgeon said she would discuss the outline of the framework with party leaders on Tuesday, with the intention to have a debate in Holyrood at the beginning of next week.

The First Minister has previously said a tiered alert system, similar to what was put in place in England last week, will be part of the Scottish Government’s approach.

The First Minister said: “One of the things the framework will set out are the different tiers or levels of intervention and restrictions which may be applied in future, either locally or nationally across Scotland, depending on how the virus is spreading.

“We will also indicate, based on the latest advice from the national incident management team and our clinical advisers, what level should apply to different parts of the country or potentially all of the country once the current temporary restrictions on hospitality come to an end on October 26.

“The framework will also summarise our work to improve the effectiveness of existing measures to curb Covid, for example, how we will work to improve compliance with Facts advice and other guidelines, the review of our testing strategy and how we will continue to support Test and Protect.”