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Coronavirus in Scotland: What are the latest lockdown rules? Covid in Scotland: What are the latest lockdown rules?
(8 days later)
The Scottish government has paused the next set of changes to the country's lockdown rules and toughened some existing measures. The Scottish government has toughened the coronavirus restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.
The reopening of indoor soft play areas, theatres and live music venues has been delayed until at least 5 October, along with the resumption of indoor contact sports for those aged 12 and over. If you live in Scotland you are no longer allowed to visit other households in their homes, or meet other people in your own house.
The rules on meeting other people have been tightened to reduce the size of gatherings. So what are the current rules - and what else is going to change? A curfew will also be imposed to force pubs and restaurants to close by 22:00. So what are the new rules?
What are the rules on meeting people? Can I visit my friends and family at home?
From Monday 14 September, it is only possible for a maximum of six people from two households to meet together - either indoors or outdoors. People across Scotland are being advised not to visit other households indoors from Wednesday 23 September onwards. This will become law from Friday.
The new regulations apply in restaurants, pubs and beer gardens, as well as in people's homes and gardens. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this was because a high proportion of new cases come from interaction with other households within homes.
If children aged under 12 are part of the two households, they will not count towards the limit of six people. This restriction was already in place for more than 1.75 million people in Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.
There will also be exceptions for organised sports and places of worship, and for funerals, weddings and civil partnerships. There are exemptions for those who have formed extended households, to support informal childcare arrangements (such as grandparents coming round to care for grandchildren) and for couples who don't live together.
There will be no change to the rule which allows 20 people to attend these ceremonies, and the same limit will now apply to wakes and receptions in regulated venues like hotels. There is also an exception allowing tradespeople to enter your home to carry out work.
People should still be following the 2m distancing rules when gathering together. If children under the age of 12 meet outdoors they will be exempt from the limits on the number of people who can gather, and on the number of households.
Restrictions have already been tightened in Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, where more than 1.75 million people are being advised not to visit other households indoors. Those who are aged between 12 and 18 are now allowed to meet outside in groups of up to six from six different households.
In addition, new police powers to break up house parties with more than 15 people has been extended to cover parties in student accommodation from 14 September. Police recently got the powers to break up groups of more than 15 people meeting in houses. This was extended to cover parties in student accommodation from 14 September.
When could the next changes happen? So what's changed?
A number of other changes which had originally been planned for 14 September have now been pushed back to 5 October - and will depend on the outcome of a review on 1 October. Over the summer it had been possible for eight people from three different households to meet indoors, and for up to 15 people from five different households to meet outdoors.
They include reopening indoor soft play areas, theatres and indoor live music venues, and the reopening of sports stadia for limited numbers of spectators. But these rules were tightened up from 14 September. After that date, the limit was reduced to a maximum of six people from two households - either indoors or outdoors.
It also includes indoor contact sports for people aged over 12. This so-called "rule of six" will still apply outdoors (including in private gardens) and in hospitality venues.
Gyms, swimming pools and indoor sports courts have been allowed to reopen since 31 August. What can I go out and do now?
There will be a further review on 1 October before a decision is taken on when non-essential offices and call centres can resume operations. While you can still meet with one other household indoors in a pub, bar or restaurant, they will now have to close by 22:00.
What can I go out and do? Hospitality venues are exempt from the 2m distancing rule, but they must warn customers they are entering a 1m zone, produce revised seating plans, and take steps such as improving ventilation.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants have reopened both indoor and outdoor spaces. Customers have to provide their contact details in case contact tracers need to reach them.
They can seek an exemption from the 2m distancing rule indoors, but will have to warn customers that they are entering a 1m zone, produce revised seating plans, and take steps such as improving ventilation. They must now wear face coverings while moving around hospitality venues and when they are not eating or drinking. It is also mandatory for staff to wear face coverings.
Guidance on physical distancing have to be followed, and customers have to provide their contact details.
Customers must now wear face coverings while moving around hospitality venues and when they are not eating or drinking. It is also mandatory for staff to wear face coverings.
Face coverings are also compulsory in shops and on buses, trains, trams, planes and taxis.Face coverings are also compulsory in shops and on buses, trains, trams, planes and taxis.
There are no longer restrictions on how far you can travel in Scotland. The level of services on public transport have been scaling up, although there is still reduced capacity. There are no longer restrictions on how far you can travel in Scotland. However, the Scottish government does advise against non-essential foreign travel.
Holiday accommodation has also reopened, along with museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments and libraries. Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments and libraries have reopened, as have gyms, swimming pools and indoor sports courts
Outdoor markets had earlier been allowed to open, along with outdoor sports courts and playgrounds, zoos and garden attractions.Outdoor markets had earlier been allowed to open, along with outdoor sports courts and playgrounds, zoos and garden attractions.
Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians and nail salons were allowed to reopen, with enhanced hygiene measures.Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians and nail salons were allowed to reopen, with enhanced hygiene measures.
Professional sport has been allowed to resume behind closed doors, although fans have been allowed to attend some test events.
People of all ages have been able to take part in organised outdoor contact sports since 24 August.People of all ages have been able to take part in organised outdoor contact sports since 24 August.
Bingo halls, amusement arcades, casinos, funfairs and snooker halls were also allowed to reopen, and driving lessons could resume.Bingo halls, amusement arcades, casinos, funfairs and snooker halls were also allowed to reopen, and driving lessons could resume.
Live events such as concerts and comedy can take place outdoors, with physical distancing, enhanced hygiene and restricted audience numbers.Live events such as concerts and comedy can take place outdoors, with physical distancing, enhanced hygiene and restricted audience numbers.
What else has changed? What do these changes mean for work and study?
Children returned to school from 11 August, although in many areas there was a phased return over the first week. Children have been back in school since August, although pupils and staff must now wear face coverings when moving about within secondary schools.
Pupils and staff must now wear face coverings when moving about within secondary schools. University teaching has also now resumed, although many aspects of courses are being taught online.
Universities and colleges can introduce a phased return to on-campus learning, as part of a blended model with remote teaching. The message from the Scottish government has remained that anyone who can work from home must do so whenever possible. This has also been the advice of the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland throughout.
Opticians are able to carry out routine eye care services - including regular eye exams - in community optometry premises and in people's homes. In July, the prime minister said people should "start to go back to work now if you can" and last month the UK government launched a campaign to encourage workers back to offices.
Dentists have been able to expand their services to offer urgent treatment which involves aerosols. But on Tuesday, the UK government changed its advice - it said people in England should now return to working from home "if they can" to reduce social mixing and slow the spread of the virus.
Counselling services, such as drug and alcohol support groups, are now able to provide essential services. A review had been planned for 1 October on when non-essential offices and call centres could resume operations in Scotland.
Places of worship have reopened for communal prayer and services, although numbers are limited, singing and chanting is restricted, and those attending need to give their contact details. But Ms Sturgeon said this review would no longer go ahead and that anyone who could work from home should do so.
Addressing employers who may have encouraged workers to return to offices, she asked them to "please rethink".
The first minister warned that the Scottish government would "put a legal duty on businesses" to allow working from home if necessary.
When could the restrictions be relaxed again?
Commenting on a suggestion that the restrictions could be in place throughout the winter, Nicola Sturgeon said that coronavirus would have an impact on our lives until there were game-changing scientific advances like a vaccine or effective treatment.
But she said that did not necessarily mean that the latest restrictions would be in place for six months.
The measures will initially be in place for three weeks, then will be reviewed. It is likely, however, that they will be extended past the first three-week cycle.
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