Coronavirus in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon calls for 'radical reduction' in interactions as workers urged to stay at home

The First Minister has urged businesses to encourage employees to work from home to “radically reduce interactions” as Scotland records its highest daily deaths from the virus since May.

Nicola Sturgeon calls for a 'radical reduction' in interaction (Photo: Lisa Ferguson).

The First Minister’s call for a “radical reduction” in interactions comes as 2,649 cases and 78 new deaths have been recorded as a result of the virus.

Delivering her message for the extreme reduction in interactions during the current tighter lockdown, the First Minister made clear that she had to be “really blunt.”

Speaking at the Covid briefing on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said: "The bottom line, and I need to be really blunt, is that for this lockdown to be as effective as we really need it to be we must radically reduce the number of interactions we are having and that means reducing to a minimum the reasons people are required to leave their homes.”

Ms Sturgeon commented that many businesses are already showing a “great flexibility” in enabling workers to work from home, however, urged that “all companies” needed to follow suit “as much as they possibly can” to tackle the recent surge.

Ms Sturgeon said: “All employers should be reviewing their operations to allow as many people to work from home as possible.

"In particular they should only be asking people to come into work if it is for work that cannot possibly be done from home and if it is for work that is genuinely essential.”

Ms Sturgeon said this also applies to takeaway businesses and non-essential shops that are providing click and collect services.

She added: “If you can provide delivery services instead then you should do that."

The First Minister also noted that the Government would consider closing more ‘non essential activities’ if there is a need to reduce interactions further which is a matter of ‘ongoing review.’

Working from home if it’s possible is now a legal requirement in almost all parts of Scotland including all of the central belt.

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