It has now been confirmed that Scotland will enter a national lockdown, starting from 00:01 on Tuesday, January 5.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a full lockdown across mainland Scotland, with all but essential shops forced to close. Like the first lockdown in spring, the general message will be to “stay at home”, but there are some exceptions. From January 16, the restrictions will be updated in regards to food and drink takeaways, click and collect and alcohol consumption outdoors. Here’s a summary of what you can and can’t do under the new restrictions.
So what can I do?
• Go to work if you cannot work from home.
• Get deliveries and takeaways sent to your home.
• Visit essential shops, such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
• Attend a wedding (five people max) or funeral (20 people max).
• Exercise outdoors, either alone, with members of your household or with one member of another household. Children under 11 are exempt from the rules and will be able to play outdoors in larger groups, including in organised gatherings.
• Visit another household for childcare reasons, or to care for a vulnerable person.
• Single adult households can still form exclusive support bubbles with one other household.
• Children will be allowed to see both parents, if they are separated.
• Socialise with one member of another household outdoors.
• Go to college or university. Higher and further education institutions can operate using a more restricted mix of face-to-face and distance learning.
• Enter a private property as a tradesperson if the work is essential for the upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household.
What can’t I do?
• Go to work if it is possible to work from home. If you are shielding and cannot work from home, you should not go into work .
• 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 or leisure centres.
• Socialise with other households indoors.
• Socialise with more than one member of another household outdoors.
• Go to school, however schools will remain open for the children of key workers and vulnerable children.
• Visit places of worship for daily services.
• Travel in and out of Scotland for non-essential purposes.
• Attend a funeral wake.
• Go inside a shop, café or restaurant to collect your takeaway food and drink or your order as part of a click and collect service.
• Drink alcohol (e.g. takeaway pints) outdoors in a public space (this will become law from January 16)
• Enter a private property as a tradesperson if the work being carried out is not essential for the upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household.
You can find all the government guidance on national lockdown restrictions here.