Huge crowds have flocked to Edinburgh’s Christmas market tonight despite Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘stay at home warning’ earlier today.
The First Minister today delivered an urgent message asking people to stay at home to try and avoid a full lockdown.
However, Edinburgh Live was contacted by one local resident who left the market after seeing the huge crowds queuing up to get in tonight.
They said: “It was crazy, there were big long queues of people snaking down a line at the entrance on Market Street.
“We stay near so didn’t have to travel but when we got there and there were so many people it made us turn back.
READ MORE: Edinburgh council turns away more than 500 homeless as campaigners demand action
“It will just need to wait this year and we are not taking the chance.”
Edinburgh Live understands that organisers Underbelly are bringing in new guidelines for the public and this has led to the queues forming.
To try and keep the market open social distancing measures have been introduced and there is now only one entrance, at Waverley Bridge and Market Street.
However the images show crowds are not staying at home as the First Minister asked earlier today.
The latest Public Health Scotland data as of December 17 shows that there 531 new Covid-19 tests today in Edinburgh, and over 3000 across the week, as the Omicron variant becomes the most dominant in Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon warned today that the Omicron strain could see new cases of the coronavirus rocket to new levels.
Warning people to stay at home before Christmas, she said: “If we do meet up with people, we should make sure that there are no more than three households in the group.
“And we should absolutely make sure we’re taking lateral flow tests before we go. But that’s a safety net. My fundamental ask of everyone just now us this. In the run up to Christmas, stay at home much more than you normally would, and as much as you can.”
Edinburgh Live reported earlier on new guidelines that Underbelly are introducing.
An Underbelly spokesperson said: "Edinburgh's Christmas is operating at a reduced capacity this year, allowing additional space for people when moving through the site.
"All visitors will continue to be asked to register their contact details ahead of entering the site by way of scanning a QR code whilst in the queuing system and at entrances.
"There is signage throughout the site and queueing system which encourages visitors to wear a mask and to keep their distance from other groups.
.png?w=600)
