Scotland

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed that all of Scotland will move to Level 0 Covid -19 restrictions on Monday – however, there would be a number of changes to what had previously been announced.

Scottish Government covid protection levels update

From Monday (19 July) Scotland will move to Level 0, with modifications on previous guidance:

Scotland will move to Level 0 with Main changes new things:

• Up to 8 people from 4 households can meet in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight.
• Up to 10 people from 4 households can meet in an indoor public place with 1m distance between households.
• Up to 15 people from 15 households can meet outdoors in your garden or a public place for informal gathering – distancing not required within the group of 15 outdoors, but different groups need to distance.
• You do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home.
• Customers no longer need to pre-book a two-hour time slot in hospitality venues (unless the venue requests it) but track and trace details must still be collected.
• Hospitality venues must close at midnight.
• Those arriving from amber list countries will no longer have to isolate on arrival in Scotland, if double vaccinated and return a negative PCR test.
• You can travel anywhere in Scotland.
• You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries.
• Up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals.
• You should still work from home where possible.
• All organized outdoor and indoor sports, personal training, organized exercise and coaching are permitted with safety measures.
• Small seated indoor events are permitted with a maximum of 400 people.
• Outdoor seated and open space events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 2,000 people.
• Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 1,000 people.
• We still shouldn’t be car sharing with those not in our household.
• We should be testing regularly, regardless of whether or not we have COVID-19 symptoms – full details on different types of testing: https://www.gov.scot/…/coronavirus-covid-19-getting…/
• Make sure you get both doses of your vaccine to reduce the risk of serious illness if you catch COVID-19.
• Beyond Level 0 (on track for 9 August), the blanket self-isolation of all close contacts will be removed if double vaccinated and return a negative PCR test.
• Advice is being gathered on the removal of self-isolation of young people who are close contacts in education settings. A further update and decision on this will be taken before the return of schools.
• The next full review of the protection levels will take place on Tuesday 3 August ahead of the potential move beyond Level 0 from Monday 9 August.

Scotland will move to Level 0: what you can do

Check the level for an area using the postcode tool.

At Level 0:

• you can meet socially in groups:
  • of up to 8 people from 4 households in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight
  • of up to 10 people from 4 households in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant
  • of up to 15 people from 15 households outdoors
• under 12s do not count towards the total number of people or households meeting outside but count towards the household numbers indoors
• you do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home
• you can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless for a permitted reason
• you can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries
• you can provide informal childcare, for example to look after a grandchild
• up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals
• tradespeople can carry out any work in your home such as painting, decorating or repairing
• you should work from home where possible

Testing

Everyone is encouraged to get tested, as around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms. Testing is free and results are available in around 30 minutes. Read guidance on getting tested.

Scotland will move to Level 0 What can open:

Places and business that can open at Level 0 include:

• cafés, pubs and restaurants
• all shops and stores
• all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons
• all sport and exercise
• tourist accommodation
• all visitor attractions
• all public buildings like libraries and community centres
• all entertainment (apart from nightclubs and adult entertainment)
• stadiums and events – with maximum numbers
• a limited and phased return to offices

What must close at Level 0

Places and business that must close at Level 0 include:

• Nightclubs and adult entertainment.