Scotland Breaks From U.K. Line With Public Consultation on Virus

(Bloomberg) --

Scotland broke with the U.K. government to set out what needs to happen before the nationwide lockdown imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus can be lifted.

It it time for a “grown up” conversation with the country, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told reporters in Edinburgh on Thursday, days after U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock ruled out discussing when and how the government will lift restrictions that have seen shops and businesses closed.

“I can’t promise you that it is going to get a whole lot easier soon,” she said. “We want to ease restrictions -- of course we do -- but we cannot absolutely rule out having to reapply some of them in future should we have evidence that the virus is again running out of control.”

The publication of the 24-page strategy from the pro-independence administration in Edinburgh marks a significant depature from Prime Miinster Boris Johnson’s Conservative government in London. The U.K. has set out five tests for lifting the lockdown, though hasn’t produced a detailed strategy because of concern doing so would encourage people to ignore the restrictions.

Scotland and the rest of the U.K. have tackled the pandemic broadly in lockstep, though cracks have been emerging. As some ministers in London mooted the idea of easing the stay-at-home policy in May and even children returning to school, the Scottish government stuck with the line they will remain for the foreseeable future.

While Scotland aims to continue follow the U.K. in combating the outbreak, the country will diverge from the rest of the country if that’s deemed appropriate, the government said in its consultation document. That could include lifting restrictions on a geographical basis or for different groups of the population. Those options will be considered during “the next few weeks,” it said.

“What I don’t want to do is give people false expectation,” Sturgeon said. “We have to be prepared for changes to how we live our lives for this year and possibly beyond.”

In line with the rest of the country, Sturgeon said some measures will be in place for the bulk of this year and possibly into 2021. Any easing is likely to be in a phased manner and when possible, and the country’s economy is likely to be opened “sector by sector.”

Scotland’s devolved government, which is responsible for health, education and some of the economy, warned earlier this week that the country’s economy could shrink 12% this year due to restrictions put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

More than 9,400 people have so far tested positive for Covid-19 in Scotland, with 1,120 confirmed as having died from the virus. Separate figures, which include deaths that are suspected of being related to the illness, show the number of fatalities at more than 1,600.

The Scottish government warned that restrictions on pubs and public gatherings will be in place for some time to come. There was no mention on when schools might reopen, other than that the impact on society and how to proceed with social distancing in education were being assessed.

“If, after easing any restrictions, the evidence tells us we are unable to contain the transmission of the virus then we will have to re-impose them, possibly returning to lockdown with little notice,” it said.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.