Sturgeon says Scots should not 'get distracted' by lockdown easing in England
Nicola Sturgeon has asked people in Scotland to "abide by the law that applies here", and not to "get distracted by messages from other parts of the UK" where the lockdown is beginning to be eased.
Instead the First Minister said they must continue to follow Scottish Government guidance.
She said Boris Johnson’s address to the nation was aimed at England and Scots should continue to “stay at home” – with the exception of being allowed out more often for exercise.
"I want to reiterate those announcements do not apply yet here in Scotland,"Sturgeon said.
"That is not, let me stress, for any political reason, it is because theScottish Government is not yet confident these changes can be made safely in Scotland yet without running the risk of the virus potentially running out ofcontrol again.
"So Scotland's lockdown restrictions remain in place for now."
It comes the day after the Prime Minister's address to the nation on the easing of lockdown rules in England.
On Wednesday member of the public in England will be allowed "unlimited" outdoor exercise and anyone who cannot work from home will be “actively encouraged” to return to their workplaces.
Boris Johnson also said there will be further relaxations in coming "weeks and months" - if progress is made in the fight against the virus - which could include a phased reopening of primary schools.
Non-essential retail shops may also be allowed to open, the Mr Johnson said, and it will "soon be the time" - though he did not give a timeframe - to "impose quarantine" on those arriving to the UK by air.
From Wednesday people will also be allowed to meet with one other person who they do not live with, in an outdoor setting, so long as social distancing can be observed ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston said.
Today the First Minister stressed that "progress against this potentially deadly virus remains fragile".
She added: "I know these restrictions continue to be extremely tough, and Iknow that hearing talk about easing the lockdown makes them seem probably even tougher.
"But please, I am asking you for now to stick with it."
She stressed: "To combat this virus we still need to stay apart form eachother, we still need to stay at home. And the more we do that now the sooner we will be able to ease more of these restrictions."
She added: "We all want to see our friends and families, we all miss them more with each day that passes. We all want to see children get back to school and we all desperately want to get back to some kind of normality.
"Please know I want all of that too - I want that as your First Minister butactually I also want it as an ordinary person who is missing my family very much indeed."
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