Travel limit of five miles could become law after rule-breaking spate

A five-mile travel restriction could be enshrined in new emergency coronavirus laws at Holyrood after hundreds of Scots flouted the new eased regime of restrictions at the weekend.

Police Officers on the promenade at Portobello Beach

The legal crackdown could also cover meetings of more than eight people outside after Police Scotland issued almost 800 dispersal orders at the weekend as phase one of lockdown exit started, which gave Scots the green light to meet with friends and family again.

Ms Sturgeon yesterday urged Scots to stick by the rules and appealed for a “national collective effort” to beat the virus.She also endorsed a warning from justice secretary Humza Yousaf, who made it clear yesterday that ministers could move to legislate on the five-mile limit on travel and eight-person limit at other households.

“We didn’t want to put a fixed five-mile limit in law because we recognised the people’s nearest and dearest might live slightly further away than that, so we wanted to leave a bit of room for people to see loved ones that they wouldn’t be able to see if that limit was in law,” the SNP leader said.

“If we judge that it is necessary to put more into law than is currently in guidance, we have to do that because I would not be fulfilling my responsibility if I didn’t do that.”

Ms Sturgeon said during her daily coronavirus briefing yesterday that all Scots must play their part in a “collective national effort” to defeat the virus.

“The truth is that our success or failure in suppressing this virus and keeping it suppressed will also depend on all of us as individual citizens and it will depend on our collective efforts as a society,” the First Minister said.

“We must all continue to do the right thing by each other by following all the rules and following all the public health guidance.”

This will determine whether Scotland continues to suppress the virus or the country “goes backwards”.

It came as the latest the latest figures showed an increase in the number of people hospitalised with coronavirus and another 12 deaths.

A total of 2,375 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up from 2,363 on Monday.

Ms Sturgeon said 15,471 people had tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 53 from 15,418 the day before.

This includes 40 earlier positive test results that were only received yesterday.

There are 1,168 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, an increase of 122, and 34 people were in intensive care, an increase of seven on the previous day.

Addressing reports that one metre of distance was sufficient to stop the spread of coronavirus, the First Minister urged Scots to continue to adhere to the current guidance of two metres.

Ms Sturgeon said: “You might be reading or hearing in the media today some voices saying that one metre is sufficient, so I want to take the opportunity today to stress that the clear and the strong advice from the Scottish Government is to stay two metres apart from those in other households.”

The First Minister also asked those who have not been wearing face coverings while in shops or using public transport to consider doing so.

She said: “It can offer some protection to other people, it protects them from you transmitting the virus to them without knowing it.

“It’s something that we can all do to protect one another.”

The First Minister also recognised the work of volunteers during the pandemic.

She praised the work of those who signed up to the Scotland Cares scheme, as well as those who have been volunteering in their community for years.

The planned “coronavirus supplement” of £230 would be paid to the carers at the end of this month, the First Minister confirmed.

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