COVID-19: Surge testing for Indian and South African variants under way across England – Yahoo News UK

The Telegraph

Nicola Sturgeon cancels lockdown easing in Glasgow amid Indian variant fears

Nicola Sturgeon has cancelled the easing of lockdown in Glasgow on Monday following evidence the more transmissible Indian Covid variant is “driving” the surge of cases in the city. The First Minister said an outbreak in the south side of Scotland’s largest city meant it would join Moray by staying in Level 3 of her lockdown restrictions, while the rest of the mainland moves to Level 2. People are advised not to travel in or out of the two council areas and their 730,000 residents will not be allowed to meet up in one another’s homes or hug loved ones, as is planned in the rest of the country. The decision also means that bars and restaurants will continue to be banned from serving alcohol indoors, delivering a devastating blow to licensed premises in the city which had spent thousands of pounds preparing to reopen for the first time since last October. Mario Gizzi, owner of the DRG group of restaurants, said: “It’s an absolute disgrace. Not only have our plans been thrown up in the air but it’s been done last thing on a Friday night.”