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7 May 2020updated 06 Oct 2020 9:45am

Scottish lockdown will be extended on Monday, but Sturgeon open to easing rules on going outside

By Samuel Horti

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland’s lockdown “must be extended” because the coronavirus transmission rate remains too high.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce the UK’s plan for leaving lockdown on Sunday, with some restrictions eased as early as Monday. But Sturgeon said she “would not be pressured into lifting restrictions prematurely”, which would risk a second piece.

Indicating that Scotland might split from England in lifting lockdown, she said: “If the prime minister decides that he wants to move at a faster pace for England than I consider is right for Scotland that is of course his right.”

However, Sturgeon said she might be willing to relax rules on the number of times people are allowed outside during a day, but only if the scientific evidence justified it. She is due to speak to Johnson this afternoon to discuss plans to ease lockdown, she said.

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