Commenting on the First Minister’s latest Covid statement confirming the changes to restrictions that will be implemented from Monday 9th August, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“I welcome this further easing of restrictions, but we are at a really crucial point for Scotland’s recovery and the Scottish Government has to focus on the recovery in the months ahead.

“While it is certainly good to see positive improvements in the rate of cases and numbers in hospital, we need to target the vaccination effort to the groups where it lags in order to maintain the progress and intensity of the programme.

“The next phase must also be about ongoing support for businesses and employers. While many businesses will welcome these steps forward some will not be able to bounce back immediately. As we come to the end of furlough, Scottish Government support to ensure that livelihoods are protected and businesses can have confidence in their recovery will be more crucial than ever.”