Omicron: Scotland cancels New Year’s celebrations, takes new action

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the Omicron version of the traditional three-day New Year’s Eve celebration in Scotland due to the spread.

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According to the independence leader, this highly contagious form of the coronavirus is “currently spreading rapidly across Scotland”, where it now represents the majority variant.

As a result, “extensive celebrations of Hogmanay (New Year’s holidays, editor’s note), including events planned here in our capital (Edinburgh, editor’s note), will not take place,” Ms Sturgeon told the deputy. local parliament.

“I know how frustrating it will be for those who are eagerly waiting for these events, and for their organisers”, he acknowledged, though recalling that “large events are an additional burden on emergency services.” put”.

The announcement is part of the introduction of wider restrictions in Scotland to reduce the spread of the virus – which, as each British nation sets its own health policy.

Nicola Sturgeon announced to Scottish lawmakers that, for a further three weeks from Boxing Day, outdoor public events would be limited to 500 people and indoor events to 100 people standing or 200 people seated.

“This means that sports matches, including football, will take place without spectators during these three weeks,” she said.

Although this does not apply to private events such as weddings, the prime minister encouraged people to “get out as little as possible”, especially for Hogman.

In Wales, the local government has now imposed fines for failing to respect telework. An employee who violates this directive will be fined 60 pounds (70 euros) from 20 December, and the employer from 1,000 to 10,000 pounds, if the facts are repeated.

These new sanctions come as Boris Johnson refused to proceed in a turn of the screw demanded by some in England.

However, he warned that he would “not hesitate to take more restrictive measures” to contain the spread of the variant in the country, the country most affected by the pandemic with more than 147,000 dead.