Scotland to introduce 'managed quarantine' for all travellers

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that all travellers arriving in Scotland will soon have to quarantine regardless of which country they have come from.

The first minister said Scotland will remain under lockdown restrictions until at least the end of February and tougher rules were needed to combat new strains of coronavirus.

The four UK nations have already agreed that travellers arriving from 33 'high-risk' countries will be required to quarantine in government-provided accommodation, such as hotels, for 10 days.

But Sturgeon said the plan "does not go far enough" to stop people reaching the UK via a third country.

She said: "By early July last year we had almost eliminated Covid in Scotland but allowed it to be reseeded by in the main overseas travel. We must guard against that happening again.

"In order to minimise the risk of new strains entering the country, managed quarantine must be much more comprehensive. We intend to introduce a managed quarantine requirement for anyone arriving directly into Scotland."

Sturgeon urged the UK government to adopt a similar approach or work collaboratively to stop people travelling to Scotland via ports elsewhere in the UK.

She added that further details of the managed quarantine system will be set out as soon as possible.

Scottish hospitality businesses remain closed but have received a three-month extension to business rates relief.

It gives operators respite from the tax until July and will be paid for by cash returned from high street retailers who do not need the aid.

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