A strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK will be kept in place over Christmas to try to stop a new variant of coronavirus from taking root, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. In addition, for three weeks from Boxing Day, the whole of mainland Scotland is to be placed into the strictest measures - Level 4. In Wales, Level 4 restrictions - in line with Tier 4 rules in England - came into effect from midnight on Sunday, while bubbles will be confined to Christmas Day. Sturgeon said the travel ban would cover the whole of the festive period, while previously announced household bubbles will now only be allowed on Christmas Day, as will travel within Scotland. "To reduce the risk of more of the strain being imported, we intend to maintain a strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK," Ms Sturgeon said in a news conference.

Source: The Standard December 19, 2020 19:41 UTC