NICOLA Sturgeon has said those who attended the 300 house parties broken up by police over the weekend risk “super-spreading” the virus and need to "take a long, hard look" at themselves.
Though the First Minister said there was a “note of frustration”, she stressed that the 300 figure, which covers police activity between Friday evening and Sunday morning, had to be looked at in the context of a population of 5.4 million.
The police also issued 101 fixed penalty notices and made 14 arrests over the weekend due to breaches of the regulations, Sturgeon said.
She added that, although the “vast majority” of the population are abiding by the rules, “anybody who is not, particularly anybody who is breaching very clear rules against house parties, should really take a look at themselves”.
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Sturgeon went on to say that “house parties” may be a misleading term, as these could be “house gatherings” which still have more than the allowed number of households mixing.
“We know that house parties are one of the risk factors that can cause this virus to spread … “They can become almost super-spreading events.”
The First Minister went on: “I would appeal to people, this is not for the sake of it we are giving this advice and putting these rules into place.
“This is for the collective wellbeing of people across the country so if you find yourself having a gathering against the rules at the weekend, or a house party, then take a long, hard look at yourself, because you’re putting yourselves and others at risk.”
She added that it was not the case that these 300 house parties were all students, instead the police were called out to events which “span the age spectrum”.
“So don’t any of us think this is all a problem with students, this is all of our responsibility,” The First Minister added.
At the Scottish Government coronavirus briefing on Friday, Chief Constable Iain Livingstone highlighted analysis suggesting around one in 10 house parties police had been responding to were linked to students.
“For people who don’t, the police will take action. 101 fixed penalty notices were published, I understand there were 14 arrests over the weekend in relation to these breaches.
“So there will be consequences, but I don’t want people to be always forced to do the right thing because of the consequences.
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“We all depend on each other right now. We are only as strong as our weakest link in fighting this virus.”
She added: “There’s never been a time when it’s been more important to act in that collective spirit of solidarity.”
Responding to today's police figures around house parties, Livingstone said: "Highly restrictive measures on our lives, freedoms and daily routines are in place as collectively we respond to this public health emergency.
"Policing is here to support people and to help everyone to do the right thing, to prevent the spread of the virus.
"Officers will use good sense and exercise the discretion that is integral to the office of constable, to work with citizens to support the implementation of these new rules.
"The experience of the last six months is that the great majority of people are taking personal responsibility to do the right thing because they know that at this time physical distancing is the significant intervention that can be made to save lives.
"I am grateful for the support and co-operation of the public and the licensed trade which continued over the weekend.
"I also want to again underline my admiration and compassion for young people and students who have responded so well to the pandemic at this crucial time of their lives."
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