Scotland could go into a two-week 'circuit-breaker' lockdown to buy the country time to bring down the coronavirus infection rate.
Jason Leitch, the national clinical director, told the BBC another round of restrictions could buy the country 28 days in the fight against the pandemic.
He said some closures to business and education would deliver a “short, sharp shock” to the rate of infection without the need for a full lockdown, like the country experience in March.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said on Sunday further restrictions could be considered as the government warned of a “rising prevalence” of the virus.
Another 758 positive cases were confirmed yesterday and the numbers of Covid-19 patients in hospital and those being treated in intensive care is also rising.
Leitch said a circuit-breaker - a short period of tightened restrictions - was about “buying yourself more time”.
He said: “Not full lockdown like 23 March - so you might make some choices in there about schools or about further education - but fundamentally a short, sharp shock to the R number.”
“You get the R number down, you get the numbers down to a reasonable level and then you can bring to reintroduce some of the things that you’ve closed.”
The comments came as leaked UK government documents showed the potential harsher restrictions that could come with second lockdown including the closure of pubs and a ban on all social contact outside of household groups.
The draft traffic light-style plan reveals tougher measures that could be imposed if Covid cases are not brought under control.
Alert level 3 – the most serious – contains tougher measures than any seen so far in local lockdowns since the start of the pandemic.
They include:
- Closure of hospitality and leisure businesses.
- No social contact outside your household in any setting.
- Restrictions on overnight stays away from home.
- No organised non-professional sports or groups activities.
- Places of worship would remain open.
- Schools would also remain open.
John Swinney, deputy First Minister, said on the weekend that school attendance was now on a par with previous years and that the return to education had been a success for pupils, teachers and parents.
Scottish Liberal Democrat lader Willie Rennie said Holyrood has to be given a say in any major rule changes.
"This idea has been floated on and off since the proposals were leaked to the press a fortnight ago," he said.
“There is therefore absolutely zero justification for rushed implementation. The government must bring the parliament with them."
