The new restrictions come into force today.
Earlier this week, the First Minister announced that Glasgow and Renfrewshire will be moving from Level Three restrictions up to Level Four from Friday 20 November as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Speaking to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, the First Minister announced this change to the restrictions, which will see 11 local authorities moved into the highest possible level of Scotland’s five-tier system.
Other areas which will join the city of Glasgow and Renfrewshire in Level Four include East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian. The restrictions have come into force from today and are expected to last for three weeks, ending on Friday 11 December.
Under Level Four restrictions, there would be a ban on in-home meetings, non-essential shops plus pubs, restaurants and cafés will now have to close, however hospitality is permitted to remain open for takeaways only. Level Four restrictions closely resemble the lockdown imposed in March, although two households are still allowed to meet outdoors up to a maximum of six people and there is no limit on outdoor exercise. Plus, schools and nurseries will stay open but shielding children are not to go to school in Level Four areas.
Nicola Sturgeon has also said that travel guidance will become law from today. This means that all the travel guidance – not moving between different tiered areas, unless with a reason listed in the current exemptions – will be law, so it will be illegal to travel between these areas from Friday 20 November.
People living in Level 3 or Level 4 must not travel outside their own council area, except for certain essential purposes. People living elsewhere in Scotland must not travel to Level Three or Level Four areas, except for essential purposes. And there must be no non-essential travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK.
Plus, across all levels of restrictions, the guidance states that face masks or coverings should be worn by adults at all times where they cannot keep two metres from other adults and/or children and young people in primary and secondary schools. However, there are some exceptions in P1-2. Face masks or coverings should also be worn by parents and other visitors to any school site (whether entering the building or otherwise), including parents at drop-off and pick-up.
So what can I do?
• Go to school, college or university. However, shielding children are not to go to school and colleges and universities will offer restricted blended learning.
• Visit a place of worship, however numbers are restricted to a maximum of 20 people.
• Go to work if you cannot work from home. Essential workplaces (e.g. Critical National Infrastructure), outdoor workplaces, construction and manufacturing can remain open.
• Get deliveries and takeaways sent to your home.
• Visit essential shops, such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
• Attend medical visits.
• Exercise outdoors, either alone, with members of your household or with five other people from two other households following social distancing guidelines.
• Go to another household for essential worker informal childcare only. Permitted in line with household/numbers restrictions, and only children may enter other households.
• Children will be allowed to see both parents, if they are separated.
• Use public transport or travel into or out of the Level Four area for essential travel for work, education, shopping health etc; outdoor exercise; weddings and funerals; and transit through restricted areas.
• Attend a wedding or civil partnership, but there is a limit of 15 people.
• Attend a funeral or wake, but there is a limit of 20 people.
• Play outdoor non-contact sport only, however outdoor contact sport is permitted if a professional sportsperson.
• Stay in a hotel, B&B or other accommodation for work-related purposes.
What can’t I do?
• Go to work if it is possible to work from home.
• Visit non-essential shops, these include ones selling clothing, tobacco, footwear and electronics, as well as vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, and vape shops.
• Visit restaurants, pubs and other hospitality venues (including but not limited to cinemas, theatres and museums).
• Visit salons, gyms, leisure centres, visitor attractions or public buildings such as libraries.
• Socialise with other households indoors.
• Socialise with more than six people from two other households outdoors and in public places like parks.
• Have a driving lesson.
• Use public transport or travel into or out of the Level Four area for non-essential purposes.
• Have a wedding reception.
• Play sport indoors and contact sport outdoors.
• Stay in a hotel, B&B or other accommodation for tourism purposes.
For more information regarding Scotland’s five-tier system, you can find their strategic framework document outlining the restrictions in detail here.