Shops and businesses across Scotland are being urged to introduce further measures to tackle the rapid spread of omicron cases.
Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs she was "profoundly concerned" by the challenge posed by the variant which is "running faster than even the fastest rollout of vaccines" – and is likely to be the dominant strain in Scotland by tomorrow.
The First Minister urged Scots to reduce contact outwith their households where possible and stay home "much more than you normally would."
She said she was "acutely aware of and deeply concerned about the considerable impact" on businesses of her government's advice for people to limit social interaction.
She said "this is not a choice between protecting health and protecting the economy" and that a surge in infections "will cause and indeed is already causing staff absences that will also cripple the economy and other critical services".
What is being done to help businesses?
Ms Sturgeon confirmed she she has written to Boris Johnson asking for more financial support to combat omicron.
She said businesses need the "scale of financial support" that was available earlier in the pandemic. She said the issue needs the "urgent engagement of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor".
"We must not sleepwalk into an emergency that for both health and business will be much greater as a result of inaction than it will be if we act firmly and strongly now," she said.
"I have therefore written to the Prime Minister this morning appealing to him to put the necessary support schemes in place. Such is the urgency I've asked to speak to him directly later today."
But she added: "However, there are simply no mechanisms available to the devolved administrations to trigger the scale of finance needed to support such schemes.
"We need the UK Government to act urgently and in the same way some other countries are already doing."
What rules are being brought in?
As part of measures to help curb the spread of the new omicron variant, ministers are bringing back rules on physical distancing and the management of queues in shops.
It comes as stores across Scotland prepare for the weekend before Christmas, traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for retailers.
With the arrival of the new omicron variant, businesses are advised to "strengthen compliance with current protection measures and make an extra effort to do so from now through the festive period and beyond."
Public Health Scotland advised that work Christmas parties are postponed for as safe a festive season as possible.
Although many COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted under amendments made to the Coronavirus Regulations before the omicron variant’s emergence, businesses and staff should continue to manage the risk of virus transmission in their workplace. This means that businesses should:
- follow this guidance and any industry guidance that may apply
- support working from home where reasonably practical
- continue to conduct and regularly review risk assessments
- implement measures identified within risk assessments;
- maximise good ventilation
- encourage everyone to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene and surface cleaning
- encourage everyone to comply with face covering regulations;
- follow and support workers to follow self-isolation guidance for both those displaying symptoms and those contacted by Test and Protect
- encourage staff to take a test twice weekly and on every occasion they intend to mix socially with people from other households. This might mean testing more regularly
- continue to work with staff, or staff representatives, on health and safety matters. Staff with no union representation can seek advice and assistance from the STUC and Scottish Hazards
- help staff to understand the steps they and their organisation can take to prevent COVID-19 spreading in the workplace
- consider available resources to support the mental health of staff whether working from home or in the office
What are industry chiefs saying?
As the changes for businesses come in, both the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and the Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) are urging shoppers to be patient.
SRC director David Lonsdale said: "Retailers and store colleagues are working around the clock to maintain a safe shopping experience so customers can have the confidence to go to their favourite shops."
He said shoppers would "see differences to their usual shopping routine" when the measures are reintroduced from Friday.
He added: "If we all wear a face covering, adhere to physical distancing and Government advice, and show consideration to those around us, including shop staff who are doing a brilliant job in challenging circumstances, then everyone will be better off.
"This way we can all enjoy shopping over the festive period and support local jobs and the vibrancy of our retail destinations."
SGF head of policy John Lee said: "Convenience stores have maintained high standards of hygiene and safety throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so
"However, the latest Scottish Government announcement is going to put a huge amount of pressure back on some shop workers - and there may be a need for queuing to control numbers in some stores to ensure people can move around them smoothly and safely.
"Unfortunately this is having to happen at the busiest time of the year for retail and we understand that some people will be unhappy.
"We are, though, asking shoppers to be patient and not to take their frustrations out on shop staff, who are key workers trying their best to serve their communities while keeping people safe.
"We have sadly seen some shoppers behave unacceptably all too many times during the pandemic. But it is now a crime to abuse a retail worker and we encourage store owners across the country to take a zero-tolerance stance against all crime.
"By showing patience towards retail workers - perhaps allowing some extra time for your shopping - you can help them to help you. The measures in place are there to protect us all and they are simply doing their job."
