Nicola Sturgeon urged to relax covid rules after Omicron measures 'failed'

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to relax covid restrictions in Scotland amid claims the measures brought in to halt the spread of the Omicron variant have "failed to make a difference".

Business leaders have pleaded with the First Minister to allow them to scrap the social distancing measures introduced last month which slashed capacities in pubs and restaurants as well as forcing nightclubs to close.

Professional football and rugby clubs are also limited to admitting just 500 fans into their grounds despite no restrictions on sport in England.

Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) spoke out as a poll of its members found that almost two thirds (65 per cent) believe that the measures in place are no longer proportionate to the risk posed by Omicron.With more than two fifths warning they could have to cut staff if the restrictions are not eased, AGCC policy director, Ryan Crighton, demanded: “The First Minister must announce the end of these damaging restrictions this week.“Not doing so places the very survival of many businesses at risk and jobs on the line.”His comments came as more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of the 170 businesses in the north east who were surveyed by AGCC between Friday and Monday said the Scottish Government was not balancing health and economic harms correctly with its Covid-19 policy.A total of 42 per cent of firms warned they may have to cut staffing numbers if the restrictions continue beyond January 17 – with almost a third (31 per cent) saying there was either a moderate or high risk their business could collapse.Sturgeon will update MSPs on the impact of restrictions when Holyrood returns from recess on Tuesday.But Crighton called on the Scottish Government to lift the curbs