Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon tells her daily briefing that one of the biggest risk factors is "importation" of the virus from other countries

  • The first minister says international travel is vital so Scotland is lifting quarantine restrictions for many countries

  • People travelling from all countries rated Green will no longer need to quarantine on entry to Scotland. Some on the Amber list, including Spain, will still have to quarantine

  • From Friday, people who are "shielding" no longer have to physically distance from the people they live with. Other changes to shielding included "extended households"

  • Rishi Sunak announces "Kickstart scheme" to directly pay employers to create new jobs for any 16 to 24-year-old at risk of long-term unemployment

  • The chancellor also announces a temporary cut to VAT on food, accommodation and attractions from 20% to 5%

  1. Watch: Chancellor's support for young job seekerspublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  2. SNP: UK needs 'more ambitious' packagepublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    House of Commons
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    Alison ThewlissImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Alison Thewliss says the chancellor should be "more ambitious" in his stimulus plans for the economy.

    She warns against withdrawing the furlough scheme "prematurely" - quoting analysis that it would cut GDP by 2.5%.

    She says the government should have support measures "no less" than a £80bn package announced in Germany.

    The chancellor says Scotland has received £4.6bn of support during the coronavirus pandemic.

  3. Watch: Changes for people shielding come in on Fridaypublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  4. Care home death toll 'awful' and 'lessons need to be learned'published at 13:35 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Nicola Sturgeon is asked by ITV Border about a report in today's Border Telegraph, following a freedom of information request, that 68 patients were moved into care homes from 28 February to 25 April before tests were required for Covid.

    Conservative MP John Lamont says "this shows how negligent the SNP were on care homes".

    “Part of me just wants to treat that comment with the contempt it deserves," says the first minister, who says it is an attempt to "politicise something that is both inappropriate and anybody with even a scrap of knowledge would know that doesn’t bear any scrutiny whatsoever”.

    Ms Sturgeon points out that the health board does not believe there was any transmission from hospitals into care homes.

    She acknowledges that while decisions were taken with the "best knowledge and evidence we had at the time", the overall death toll in care homes has been “awful” and lessons will need to be learned from that.

    Elderly man holding stickImage source, Reuters
  5. Scotland's finance secretary responds to chancellor's announcementpublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  6. FM welcomes chancellor's plans to help young peoplepublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Rishi SunakImage source, AFP

    The first minister says she "welcomes" the £2bn scheme to create thousands of job placements for young people announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

    Stressing that she has not yet heard the full details of the chancellor's announcement, Nicola Sturgeon adds that she is not sure if it will go as far as the job guarantee for 16-25 year-olds outlined in the Benny Higgins report recommended for Scotland, which her government is currently considering

    In response to a question from Global, she says that the chancellor's plans on job placements "may play a part" alongside the proposal from Mr Higgins.

  7. Watch: Quarantine measures lifted for 39 countries from 10 Julypublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  8. Scotland to get £4.6bn from chancellor's announcementspublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  9. Quarantine list to be assessed every three weekspublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Louise Scott from STV asks how often the quarantine list will be reviewed and if the rules could change during somebody's holiday abroad?

    The first minister had already announced that the next formal review point is 20 July and she explains that her government has a statutory obligation to re-examine the list of nations on a three-week cycle.

    "Every country will reserve the right to take decisions very quickly if necessary," says Nicola Sturgeon.

    "If there is a sudden surge in infections in a particular country then we would perhaps have to reimpose quarantine arrangements here.

    "No country will rule that out right now and nor should they. People should be aware of this when making plans to travel."

    Stay safe signImage source, Getty Images
  10. Watch: chancellor announces VAT cutpublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  11. Chancellor: Kickstarters and Jobs Retention Bonuspublished at 13:20 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  12. 'You shouldn't try to get round quarantine arrangements'published at 13:18 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Passengers at airportImage source, Getty Images

    Nick Sheridan from BBC Scotland asks how the government will know if people decide to fly into Portugal or France, then enter Spain and spend the week there, before flying back from Portugal or France.

    Nicola Sturgeon reiterates that "you can’t get round these quarantine arrangements by just deciding to fly from or to somewhere else", and "nor should you try to get round them”.

    "They are here for a really good reason, to try to protect us as far as possible from a further spread of the virus," she says.

    The first minister says that even if people travel from, for example, Manchester, to Spain and then return home via there to Scotland, that information will be shared with Public Health Scotland, and the law will require you to quarantine here for 14 days.

    "Hopefully we will change that in the not too distant future," she adds.

  13. Further relaxations for people shieldingpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Jeane Freeman

    Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announces a change in guidance for those in the shielding category, which she says will "help ease an extraordinary burden".

    The changes come into effect from Friday.

    • No longer any need to physically distance from people you live with
    • Children in the household under 12 no longer need to distance from other children outside - as long as the other children are not shielding
    • Those living alone - or single parents - can form an extended household group with one other household, which means no distancing and overnight stays
    • You can book holiday accommodation or visit a second home - provided they do not have shared facilities
    • Meet up with two other households outdoors - rather than the current one, although it is recommended no group contains more than eight people
    • Use the toilet inside when on an outdoor visit
  14. Here's some headlines from the chancellor's statement...published at 13:13 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  15. Visitors to Scotland must follow the FACTS advicepublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    The first minister stresses the need for everyone coming to Scotland to follow the public health advice in FACTS:

    • Face coverings in enclosed spaces
    • Avoid crowded places
    • Clean hands and surfaces regularly
    • Two metre distancing; and
    • Self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms
  16. Restrictions for people shielding to ease from Fridaypublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  17. 'You cannot get around the need to quarantine in Scotland by flying to or from an airport in England'published at 13:08 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Passenger at airport arrivals hallImage source, Getty Images

    Ms Sturgeon points out all countries are keeping these arrangements under review and are subject to change, so be aware of that if you have plans to travel.

    Quarantine arrangements are being looked at, she says.

    "You cannot get around the need to quarantine in Scotland by flying to or from an airport in England."

    The first minister points out Public Health Scotland will have contact details of those in Scotland and will carry out sample checks.

  18. STA welcome clarity but Spain decision a 'blow'published at 13:08 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

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  19. Decision 'motivated only by a determination to protect Scotland'published at 13:05 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    The first minister says the quarantine requirements cannot be lifted for Spain or Serbia.

    She hopes they can be lifted on 20 July, the next review point.

    "This has been a very difficult decision."

    However it is an evidence-based decision, she adds.

    "It is motivated only by a determination to protect Scotland as far as possible from a resurgence oft the virus in the weeks ahead."

    Nicola Sturgeon
  20. Quarantine restrictions on those returning from Spain stay in placepublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 8 July 2020

    Crowded Spanish beachImage source, EPA

    The first minister says a full list of the 39 countries where quarantine will not be required will be published on the Scottish government website.

    They include Germany, Austria, Malta and Norway.

    Australia is also on the list as it is still low risk and people in Melbourne can't travel.

    Ms Sturgeon says quarantine will also be lifted for countries in the amber list with a prevalence below or not significantly higher than Scotland.

    She says we cannot lift restrictions for people returning from Spain due to the higher prevalence there.