People who travel to Scotland for anything other than essential purposes are “potentially in breach of the law”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The Scottish first minster said there was no need for “confusion”, even as different lockdown rules come into effect in different parts of the UK.
Boris Johnson has urged more people to return to work as part of a plan to gradually ease restrictions in England.
But Ms Sturgeon said that in Scotland, “lockdown remains in place for now“.
She said: “If you are in Scotland, then the law in Scotland applies – and the law says that just now you can only be out of your own home for essential reasons.”
And she stressed that “it is not OK to drive into Scotland to beauty spots to visit places and for leisure”.
The prime minister is to set out further details about his “roadmap” towards lifting the virus lockdown later on Monday, having unveiled the “first careful steps” in a television address on Sunday evening.
He said people in England who cannot work from home should start to return to the workplace, while rules around outdoor exercise and recreation are to be eased.
Ms Sturgeon said the law and guidance in Scotland had not changed, and said: “I would hope all employers would respect that.”
In a televised statement on Monday evening, she added that restrictions would “gradually” be relaxed as the infection rate falls – but said it was “vital” to do this carefully so as not to “jeopardise” progress made so far.
While people are now allowed to go out more than once a day for exercise, Scots are still expected to stay at home other than for essential work, to buy food or medicine, or for exercise.
At her daily media briefing, the first minister was asked about people who live near the border with England.
She said: “If you live in the Scottish Borders and you come across the border to go to the supermarket, you would certainly not be breaking the law if you were getting food, that’s an essential purpose.
“If you live just south of the border and you work in an essential job then equally that is perfectly legitimate.
“But if you are coming to Scotland and are not covered by those essential purposes, then you potentially would be in breach of the law.”
‘Respect the rules’
Ms Sturgeon added: “If you live in Scotland right now and you’re not working at the moment, or working from home, then my advice is you should continue with that right now. We are not encouraging more people to go back to work right at the minute.”
The first minister said she did not think there was any plan or need for “increased policing” at the border, but warned people in England not to travel to Scottish beauty spots for recreation.
The UK government’s guidance paper for people in England states: “When travelling to outdoor spaces, it is important that people respect the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and do not travel to different parts of the UK where their intended activities there would be prohibited by legislation passed by the relevant devolved administration.”
“If you are in Scotland, then the law in Scotland applies – and the law says that just now you can only be out of your own home for essential reasons … it is not OK to drive into Scotland to beauty spots to visit places and for leisure.”
Next level imprisonment!! I see different places trying out different strategies – they are testing to see how far they can take it. I really miss Koyote.
.