‘Do not travel to Edinburgh to go shopping,’ Nicola Sturgeon warns Glasgow shoppers

Shoppers on Princes Street, Edinburgh (picture: Lisa Ferguson).

Across 11 council areas, including highly populated areas such as Glasgow, Stirling and Lanarkshire, non-essential shops, hospitality, gyms and hairdressers will be forced to close as they move into level four at 6pm tonight.

Edinburgh, however, will remain in level three, leaving non-essential shops open for those who live in the council area.

Tougher coronavirus restrictions coming into effect in Scotland will “lower the risk” of people getting Covid-19 at Christmas, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Today, the First Minister urged those living under level four not to do their Christmas shopping in level 3 Edinburgh.

The news comes as travel ban laws are set to come into effect tonight which state that those living in level four must not leave their council area unless they have a reasonable excuse such as travelling for school or work.

The First Minister urged Scots to abide by the new regulations, which could see a £60 fine levied against those who violate the rules unless they have a “reasonable excuse.”

Speaking at today’s briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: “I'm being open with people - if we want to keep this targeted approach, travel restrictions are a key part of that and people should abide by them.

"If you live in Glasgow, as I do, do not travel to Edinburgh to go shopping, because not only will you be breaking the law you will be risking taking the virus from Glasgow to Edinburgh and putting people in Edinburgh at risk.

"That sounds blunt, but given what we face right now, I think it's important for me to blunt.”

Ms Sturgeon reminded the public that essential shops in level four will remain open, and urged people not to worry about essential food supplies.

She also suggested that people should shop online over the next three weeks if they can to get things that are not available from essential shops.

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