Cluster Bluster

Sturgeon and Johnson in war of words over fears English tourists could be forced to quarantine due to virus hotspots

- Paul Hutcheon

Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon have bitterly clashed over claims people travelling from England to Scotland may have to quarantine.

The Prime Minister said the prospect was “astonishing and shameful” and claimed there is “no such thing” as a border between the two countries.

An angry Sturgeon hit back by saying attempts to politicise the public health crisis were “shameful” and “unacceptable”.

She blasted: “If you find yourself trying to turn this into a political or constitutional argument, go and take a long, hard look at yourself.”

Coronavirus levels are falling north of the Border and concern exists about diverging infection numbers across the UK.

A cross-border “cluster” of coronavirus cases was announced yesterday across southwest Scotland and northwest England.

The First Minister has said her Government has no plans to impose quarantine on people coming to Scotland from England, but has also declined to rule it out.

In a tweet, Sturgeon pointed to New York, where people will have to quarantine if they travel to the state from parts of America.