There is no date set for call centres and non-essential offices to reopen in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister confirmed at Holyrood today that Scotland will remain in phase three of lockdown for at least the next three weeks, although the period is expected to be longer.
A number of changes will be made to restrictions from next week, including gyms and swimming pools being able to reopen at the end of this month.
However, the First Minister made clear that the return to the office is a long way off, and pointed to schools returning as the reason.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions today, Sturgeon said: “We are not yet setting a date for the reopening of call centres and non-essential offices. We will review this again at the next review point but for now working from home will remind the default position.
“I know that many office workers are missing their colleagues and many are keen to resume a more normal daily routine, I know some businesses, however well they are managing to work virtually, will want more of their employees to meet and work together. And I am acutely aware of the impact of home working on cafes and services based in areas with lots of office workers.
“However a full return to office working, given the numbers involved, will significantly increase the risk of transmission. It would also make buses and trains busier and increase transmission there too.
“It is our conclusion therefore that a return to working in offices - unless that work is essential and cannot be completed at home - presents too great a risk at this time.”
The FM added that offices reopening and a surge in coronavirus cases would impact community transmission and “make it difficult to keep schools open”
She continued: “This does come down to difficult judgements and priorities. We’ve made clear our priority is to have children back at school and with the virus as it is we cannot do everything else we’d like to do.
“I know people will ask why their kids can go to school and they can’t go to an office and that might seem like an inconsistency. But that logic is back to front. It is because you cannot go to the office and the other restrictions that we are able to send children back to school. If we opened everything up the virus would run away with itself.”
As reported earlier today, today marks the highest number of new cases in almost three months, with 77 reported across Scotland in 24 hours. That brings the total number since March to 19.534, and it includes community clusters in north east Glasgow and in Lanarkshire, linked to a number of school pupils - although it has been repeated that there is no evidence to suggest transmission happened in schools, as many of those young people have not yet attended since reopening.
For a full breakdown of today’s announcement, including the latest numbers and what you will be able to do from next week, head to our live blog.
