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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stuart Wilson

Scots could be put into lockdown 'at 7pm on Friday' as country prepares for coronavirus circuit breaker

Doctors say they have been told to brace for a Scotland-wide mini-lockdown starting at 7pm on Friday.

It comes as Nicola Sturgeon prepares to update the country on "circuit breaker" plans.

And Scots could be ordered to stay at home for a fortnight, according to health insiders.

An NHS source revealed last night: “We’ve been told to expect it from 7pm on Friday,” reports the  Sun.

NHS sources told the newspaper that doctors in Glasgow had been told to expect the stay-at-home order to be announced today and start just before the weekend.

Speaking at the daily briefing yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said: "Given the numbers that we are seeing it is possible that we will need to do more.

"This is further evidence that in Scotland as it in in many countries - COVID is on the rise again."

"It is vital that we do everything we can to get this under control."

The First Minister added: "I can say that the government will be considering the latest clinical evidence and advice later on today and the cabinet will be considering the up to date situation when it meets tomorrow morning."

"It could well be a number of different things."

It follows a warning from Professor Jason Leitch that a two week 'shock' could reduce coronavirus infection rates by getting the R number down.

He told the BBC: "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.

"So the idea is that a two-week, roughly, circuit-breaker, would buy you 28 days. You don't know that for sure, because it's not an exact science, but it would buy you about a month in the pandemic."

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