‘You are not being blamed for this’: First Minister urges students to ‘do what is asked of you’ over lockdown weekend

The First Minister addressed students today after it was announced on Friday night that they could not go to pubs, parties, restaurants, or other households this weekend
The First Minister asked students to 'do what was asked' of them this coming weekendThe First Minister asked students to 'do what was asked' of them this coming weekend
The First Minister asked students to 'do what was asked' of them this coming weekend

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised to university students who have been told to self-isolate amid coronavirus outbreaks and told them that is is ‘not the case’ they are being blamed for spreading the virus but has urged them to ‘do what is asked of you’.

At the coronavirus briefing on Friday Ms Sturgeon addressed students and said: “I know some of you feel as if you are being blamed for the spread of Covid right now but that’s not the case.

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"You don’t deserve to be facing this, nobody deserves to be facing this right now and it’s not your fault.

"But, and this is just as important, this won’t last forever and the quicker we get Covid back under control, the sooner you will get to enjoy a more normal student life.

"So I know how difficult what I am asking you to do is, but please do what is being asked of you because although Covid is nobody’s fault we all have to play our part in tackling it and there's nobody across the country that is not touched by that.”

On Thursday night, students across the country were told not to go to pubs, parties or restaurants this weekend in a bid to stop the outbreaks in its tracks.

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Students this weekend will not be allowed to socialise with anyone outside of their accommodation.

Hundreds of students across the country’s university campuses have tested positive for the virus, with many now self-isolating.

Universities Scotland said the new guidance had been agreed with the Scottish government and was a "necessary step at this crucial moment of managing the virus in the student population, to protect students and the wider community.”

Students living away from home are also not able to go home to see their families, as the Scottish government recently banned different households from mixing.

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Police Scotland will also be monitoring student behaviour off-campus and in private accommodation, with private providers of student accommodation urged to enforce the guidance.

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