Helpline Created to Support Scottish Businesses in Coping with Coronavirus

A new helpline has been created with the aim of supporting Scottish businesses and their bosses in coping with the coronavirus outbreak.

The helpline is already live and will be operational between Mondays and Fridays from 8.30am to 5pm each day.

“This situation presents a significant risk to global and domestic economic activity,” said Fiona Hyslop, economy secretary with the Scottish government.

“This is why today we are launching a business helpline which will provide companies in Scotland with the support and guidance they need to respond appropriately.”

It’s been announced that Scottish and UK governments have stepped up their responses to the COVID-19 outbreak and recently moved from a ‘containment’ to a ‘delay’ phase.

Moving to that new phase has meant that large gatherings involving more than 500 people will be cancelled from March 16th until further notice and anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus is being advised to self-isolate for seven days.

The impact of COVID-19 is clearly expected to be very significant but the Scottish government is seeking to reassure the nation that it will be doing everything in its power to protect “the workforce, businesses and our economy”.

“I’d encourage everyone to refer to the new guidance on COVID-19 that includes workplace advice on reducing the spread of infection,” Ms Hyslop said.

“Following the UK government’s budget we also require urgent clarification on what funding Scotland will receive from the announcements made by the UK government, at a time when prospects for the economy and public finances remain very uncertain as the short term impacts of COVID-19 unfold,” she went on to explain.

It has been announced that the Scottish football season has been suspended until further notice in response to the unfolding coronavirus outbreak situation.

Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League, said in a statement that it was “neither realistic nor possible” to carry on with the football season under current circumstances.

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