Boddam Castle, Aberdeenshire
Boddam Castle, Aberdeenshire
Scotland
Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Peterhead
Aberdeenshire and Moray will move to level 1 on Saturday.
Aberdeenshire and Moray will move to level 1, Glasgow to move to Level 2 and Scotland remains on the right track.
The First Minister outlined the next steps to Parliament and confirmed that Glasgow will move to Level 2 from 00:01 on Saturday 5 June 2021.
The following mainland local authority areas will also remain at Level 2, while the situation with the virus is monitored closely:
- East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire
- East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, and South Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire
- Edinburgh and Midlothian
- Stirling and Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
At the same time, from 00:01 on Saturday 5 June 2021, these 15 mainland local authorities will move to Level 1:
- Highland and Argyll & Bute
- Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray
- Angus and Perth & Kinross
- Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- West Lothian and East Lothian
- The Scottish Borders
- Dumfries & Galloway
All islands currently in Level 1 will move to Level 0 at the same time due to sustained low numbers of cases. Everyone is encouraged to get tested to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by finding cases that might be missed, as around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 don’t have symptoms.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“I appreciate that today’s decisions will feel like a mixed bag. That reflects the fact that we are in a transition phase. No part of the country is going backwards today. Before the vaccines, that would have been impossible on case numbers like this. But the vaccines are changing the game. And that means we can still be optimistic about our chances of much more normality over the summer and beyond.
“As always, all of us have a part to play in beating this virus back. So please, stick with it, and each other.”
For local authority areas in Level 2, we will be providing support to soft play and other closed sectors that had expected to open, or operate in a different way from 7 June. Full details will be provided by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance tomorrow.
Aberdeenshire and Moray on Level 1: what you can do
- you can meet socially in groups:
- under 12s do not count towards the total number of people or households meeting outside but do count towards the number of households 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 100 people can attend weddings and funerals
- tradespeople can carry out any work and repairs in your home such as painting, decorating or repairing
- you should work from home where possible
Aberdeenshire and Moray, What can open at Level 1
Places and business that can open at Level 1 include:
- cafés, pubs and restaurants
- all shops and stores
- all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons
- gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
- 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
Aberdeenshire and Moray, What must close at Level 1
Places and business that must close at Level 1 include:
- nightclubs and adult entertainment
Promoting Scotland Tourism
Promoting Scotland Tourism
Scottish New Cabinet
Scottish Full Ministerial team confirmed.
Nicola Sturgeon has completed appointments to her new ministerial team.
Consisting of 10 Cabinet Secretaries, including the First Minister, the Scottish Cabinet will be supported by 15 Junior Ministers.
First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Drugs Policy, Angela Constance
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, John Swinney
Minister for Parliamentary Business, George Adam
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes
Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work (who will also work alongside the Net Zero Secretary), Richard Lochhead
Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee
Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, Tom Arthur
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf
Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, Maree Todd
Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Minister for Children and Young People, Clare Haughey
Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, Jamie Hepburn
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson
Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform (who will also work alongside the Rural Affairs Secretary), Mairi McAllan
Minister for Transport, Graeme Dey
Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Keith Brown
Minister for Community Safety, Ash Denham
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison
Minister for Equalities and Older People, Christina McKelvie
Minister for Social Security and Local Government, Ben MacPherson
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Jenny Gilruth
COVID Testing free for everyone in Scotland
Covid testing is free lateral flow test kits will be available for anyone without symptoms.
From 26.04.2021 everyone in Scotland will be able to access rapid coronavirus COVID testing, even if they have no symptoms.
Free lateral flow home test kits will be available for pick up without an appointment from many local walk-in or drive-through test sites from 3.30pm each day, or by ordering online or by phone, for people to test themselves twice-weekly.
The expansion is aimed at finding cases that would otherwise go undetected, so anyone testing positive can self-isolate and avoid transmitting the virus to those around them.
COVID testing, it means anyone without COVID-19 symptoms who does not already have access to asymptomatic testing in their workplace or community can test themselves. This includes anyone planning travel to a Scottish island so they can test themselves before their journey.
Each pack contains seven rapid lateral flow device tests that can provide results in around 30 minutes. A positive result means people should self-isolate with their household and order a PCR test to confirm the positive result.
Support for people who need to self-isolate is available, including a £500 self-isolation support grant for low income workers. People who do not have family or community support can also call the National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000, or contact via textphone on 0800 111 4114.
More information on self-isolation support is available from ready.scot/coronavirus
Anyone who receives a negative result should continue to follow the restrictions and guidance currently in place, including FACTS, as a negative result is not a guarantee that someone does not have COVID-19.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said:
“This expansion builds on our existing testing strategy, and will help our efforts to ease the country out of lockdown safely. Routine testing is already available for people with no symptoms in a wide-range of settings, including schools, high-risk workplaces, and communities where COVID-19 rates remain stubbornly high.
“Rapid lateral flow testing is already helping us to find cases that might otherwise have been missed, as around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not show symptoms. That’s why it’s vital people can access testing, even if they don’t feel unwell. It will help protect the people around you, and help us avoid another return to lockdown.
“It may be tempting to think as vaccinations increase and cases drop, that testing will become less important. In fact, this will only make it more important to spot and prevent new outbreaks as cases emerge. We know from our experience of last summer just how quickly one outbreak can lead to another.
“This also applies regardless of whether you have been vaccinated or not. While the latest evidence suggests vaccines provide a high level of protection against the effects of COVID-19, they don’t yet provide a guarantee that you can’t still get the virus or pass it on to others.
“By making home tests so widely available to everyone who needs them, people have more options to get tested and our strong advice is for people to take up this offer to protect people around them, and the progress we’ve made so far.”
For more information:
Order a COVID testing kit online, go to: gov.scot/communitytesting
Pre-departure testing covers travel to all Scottish islands. The first test should be taken three days before travel to an island and the second on the day of departure.
People with no COVID-19 symptoms can already access Community Testing in a number of NHS Board and Local Authority areas. You can find the site closest to you at gov.scot/communitytesting
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms (high temperature, new continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) should self-isolate and book a PCR test via nhsinform.scot/testandprotect or by calling 0800 028 2816.
People with symptoms in the NHS Highland, Orkney, Shetland, or the Western Isles board areas can book a test via their health board website. NHS Highland residents can also call 01463 706015 to book a test at their local fire station.
Scotland move to level 3
Scotland move to level 3 – significant easing of restrictions across retail, hospitality and travel.
Nicola Sturgeon has announced details of the further relaxation of restrictions across Scotland.
From Monday 26 April, hospitality venues such as cafes, pubs and restaurants can reopen, along with tourist accommodation.
Non-essential retail outlets and close contact services such as beauty salons can also reopen, in addition to indoor attractions and public buildings such as galleries, museums and libraries.
The First Minister confirmed that all parts of the country will move to Level 3 from Monday 26 April. The remaining travel restrictions within Scotland will be lifted and travel within the UK will be permitted for any purpose.
If everyone continues to follow the rules, the First Minister said it is expected that all of Scotland will move to Level 2 on Monday 17 May.
Further changes from 26 April include:
- Adults on the shielding list can return to the workplace, if they cannot work from home, while children who have been shielding can return to school
- Non-essential work inside people’s homes – such as painting, decorating or repairing – will be permitted, subject to mitigations
- Non-essential informal childcare will resume
- Driving lessons and tests can take place, while gyms and swimming pools can reopen for individual exercise
- The attendance limit for funerals and weddings – and related events such as receptions – will increase to 50
- Cafes, pubs and restaurants can resume full outdoor service, subject to local licensing, and serve food indoors without alcohol until 8pm
- Takeaways to resume normal service, with physical distancing and face masks in premises
The First Minister also announced that rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests will be made available to anyone in Scotland and to those planning travel to the islands.
From today, anyone planning travel to the islands next week can order a free home test kit online. The first test should be taken three days before travel and the second on the day of departure.
From Monday, lateral flow home test kits will be available to anyone in the wider population who does not have COVID-19 symptoms. They can be picked up from local walk/drive-through test sites for people to test themselves twice-weekly. Anyone in Scotland who develops COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and book a PCR test.
The expansion is aimed at finding cases that would otherwise go undetected, so those people can self-isolate and avoid transmitting the virus to those around them.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“The changes that come into force next week have been hard earned by all of us. I know that many will be looking forward – quite rightly – to their first drink in a beer garden, to catching up with a friend in a café, or to going on holiday somewhere in Scotland.
“But even as we enjoy those moments, we still need to be careful. We must remember the virus is more infectious now than it was when bars and cafés were last open, so we must still stick to the rules. However, we are hopeful of seeing sustained progress in the weeks and months ahead.
“We are keeping island communities in Level 3 at the moment, so that we can allow travel between those communities and the rest of Scotland. If you are planning to travel to an island and do not have COVID-19 symptoms, we will encourage you to take two lateral flow tests for COVID-19 before you depart. This is an important way to reduce the risk of bringing COVID-19 into island communities. If you are travelling to an island next week, it is possible to get tests from today, and I would encourage you to do that.”
Benefits in new financial year introduces changes from 6 April.
Benefits in New Financial year for Pensions, Universal Credit and other benefit pay rates changes in place from 6 April 2021.
Attendance Allowance
Higher rate: £89.60 (from £89.15)
Lower rate: £60.00 (from £59.70)
Carer’s Allowance
April 2021 rate: £67.60 (from £67.25)
Disability Living Allowance
Care Component
Highest: £89.60 (from £89.15)
Middle: £60.00 (from £59.70)
Lowest: £23.70 (from £23.60)
Mobility component
Higher: £62.55 (from £62.25)
Lower: £23.70 (from £23.60)
Employment and Support Allowance
Under 25: £59.20 (from £58.90)
25 or over: £74.70 (from £74.35)
Housing Benefit
Under 25: £59.20 (from £58.90)
25 or over: £74.70 (from £74.35)
Entitled to main phase ESA: £74.70 (from £74.35)
Incapacity Benefit (long-term)
April 2021 rate: £114.70 (from £114.15)
Income Support
Under 25: £59.20 (from £58.90)
25 or over: £74.70 from (£74.35)
Jobseeker’s Allowance (contributions based)
Under 25: £59.20 (from £58.90)
25 or over: £74.70 (from £74.35)
Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based)
Under 25: £59.20 (from £58.90)
25 or over: £74.70 (from £74.35)
Maternity/Paternity/Shared Parental Pay
Standard rate: £151.97 (from £151.20)
Pension Credit
Single: £177.10 (from £173.75)
Couple: £270.30 (from £265.20)
Personal Independence Payment
Daily Living Component
Enhanced: £89.60 (from £89.15)
Standard: £60.00 (from £59.70)
Mobility Component
Enhanced: £62.55 (from £62.25)
Standard: £23.70 (from £23.60)
State Pension
Full New State Pension: £179.60 (from £175.20)
Basic Old State Pension (Category A or B): £137.60 (from £134.25)
Widow’s Pension
Standard rate: £122.55 (from £121.95)
Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay
Standard rate: £151.97 (from £151.20)
Statutory Sick Pay
Standard rate: £96.35 (from £95.85)
Universal Credit from April to September (monthly rates shown)
Standard allowance
Single
Single under 25: £344.00 (from £342.72)
Single 25 or over: £411.51 (from £409.89)
Couple
Joint claimants both under 25: £490.60 (from £488.59)
Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £596.58 (from £594.04)
Child Elements
First child (born prior to 6 April 2017): £282.50 (from £281.25)
First child (born on or after 6 April 2017) or second child and subsequent child (where an exception or transitional provision applies): £237.08 (from £235.83)
Disabled Child Additions
Lower rate addition: £128.89 (from £128.25)
Higher rate addition: £402.41 (from £400.29)
Limited Capability for Work
Limited capability for work amount: £128.89 (from £128.25)
Limited capability for work and work-related activity amount: £343.63 (from £341.92)
Carer
Carer amount: £163.73 (from £162.92)
Universal Credit from October to March 2022 (monthly rates shown)
Standard allowance
Single
Single under 25: £257.33
Single 25 or over: £324.84
Couple
Joint claimants both under 25: £403.93
Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £509.91
For the more information about, benefit increases, visit the www.gov.uk website here.
Business start reopening after lockdown in Scotland from Monday 5 April
Business start reopening, cautious easing of lockdown
Hairdressers, garden centres, car showrooms and forecourts, homeware stores and non-essential click and collect services will be able to open from Monday 5 April Business start reopening after lockdown, subject to enhanced safety measures including physical distancing, face coverings and pre-booking where appropriate.
More college students will be able to return to on-campus learning and 12-17 year-olds will be able to resume outdoor contact sports from this date.
Restrictions on non-essential travel across local authority boundaries will remain in place.
People must stay within their council area for non-essential shopping and should only travel to another area for essential shopping if there are no practical alternatives.
People should also continue to work from home where they can to prevent unnecessary contact that could risk transmission of the virus.
The latest easing of restrictions comes as data shows continued suppression of Coronavirus (COVID-19), and progress on vaccination. Virtually all over 65 year olds have now received a first dose of the vaccine, and the average daily case rate is now 539 new cases per day, a decline of more than 75% since early January.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“We have made progress both in suppressing the virus and in vaccination, and therefore the changes I previously indicated will go ahead on 5 April.
“The stay at home rule is being replaced by a requirement to stay local – while Covid levels remain high in some areas, and while a lot of people remain unvaccinated, we do not want the virus to spread from areas with relatively high prevalence to areas with low rates of infection. That’s why the current travel restrictions, which prevent non-essential travel outside your local authority area, are really important.
“It will be easier to relax more restrictions in the future if case numbers remain under control, so when things open up slightly this weekend please continue to stick to the rules, and follow the advice and the instructions given by store staff to keep you and the other customers safe.
“Stay at home – for now – protect the NHS, and follow the FACTS advice when you are out and about to help save lives.”
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: First Minister’s statement – 30 March 2021 – gov.scot
Guidance will be updated on Friday and Monday to take account of the changes confirmed today.
During the pre-election period the usual parliamentary protocol applies and draft regulations will be shared with the COVID-19 Committee.
Consultation with sectors still to reopen is ongoing, towards further decisions on easing to be taken ahead of the next review point on 26 April.
BBC Scotland topical TV discussion programme is touring the country virtually, Wednesday 31 March.
BBC Scotland to give the people of Scotland the opportunity to have their say about the issues that matter most to you.
Debate Night are inviting people in Aberdeenshire to apply now for episode on Wednesday 31 March.
Members of the general public in Aberdeenshire are invited to apply to join live audience via Zoom and have your say in the evening’s programme. Maybe you are a parent, frontline worker, run a business, a student, have been self-isolating or your work has been affected by Coronavirus; whatever your situation, we want you to apply and be part of the discussion.
As a Debate Night audience member, it is YOUR questions which lead the discussion and the stories, experiences and opinions you share with us that matter most. It is the only TV programme of its kind in the country to allow you the chance to put your questions to Scotland’s key decision-makers and public figures each week.
HOW TO TAKE PART: www.bbc.co.uk/debatenight click ‘Join the Audience’ and fill out an application form.
Previous episodes are available to watch via BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000htfx
Vaccination programme in Scotland reaches 2 million people
Vaccination delivered to 44% of Scotland’s eligible population.
Scotland’s vaccination programme has delivered first doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to more than two million people – 44% of the adult population.
The landmark was reached on Wednesday 17 March. 60 year old Ian Love from Dunipace was among those vaccinated on the day the milestone was reached. The engineering manager received his first dose at Forth Valley College’s Stirling campus, one of a number of community venues being used to deliver the vaccine locally in NHS Forth Valley.
The national vaccination programme continues to move through groups 6 and 7 on the priority list which includes those with particular underlying health conditions and unpaid carers. A self-referral online service has been launched to enable any eligible unpaid carers who have not received an invitation to register themselves.
As groups 6 and 7 progress, we have begun scheduling appointments for the next priority groups which are group 8 (age 55-59 years) and 9 (age 50-54 years) and vaccinations for these groups began at the start of this week.
Heath Secretary Jeane Freeman said:
“More than two million people in Scotland have now received their first dose of the vaccine. That this has been achieved in little more than three months is down to the enormous efforts of our vaccination teams. I would like to thank everyone who is working tirelessly to make this a success, and also every individual who has taken up their offer of a vaccine.
“Scotland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is now in the final stages of vaccinating the first nine priority groups. When you are offered the vaccine please take up the invitation. The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow. All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”
Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland Dr Miles Mack said:
“It is remarkable that a year after the first COVID-19 mortality in Scotland, effective vaccines have been developed, and are now being rapidly rolled out across the country. It is a testament to the hard working healthcare staff, military personnel and volunteers that we mark the milestone of 2 million first dose vaccinations, since the vaccine rollout programme began in December.
“We know that the vaccines are safe and effective. They are a vital tool in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases and in ensuring that people are protected against this deadly disease. But there is more work to be done.
Much of the adult population is yet to receive their first vaccine dose, and I would encourage people to take up the offer of a vaccine when they are called. I’d also ask the public to please bear with us while they are waiting their turn to be vaccinated. I know that vaccinators are working through the clinical priority list as quickly as they possibly can.”
Mr Love said:
“I am so pleased to have had my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is such a relief and it really is starting to feel like we can start to think about a return to normal life.
“I want to thank everyone at NHS Forth Valley – the whole procedure has been simple and the local staff were very reassuring and clearly explained the process. I look forward to getting my second dose in around twelve weeks’ time.”
NHS Forth Valley Immunisation Team Coordinator Gillian Bruce said:
“We are delighted to be marking the delivery of 2 million Covid-19 vaccinations here in Stirling. This achievement is testament to the hard work of local immunisation teams, GP Practice staff and volunteers across the country who are working closely with colleagues in local councils, Health and Social Care Partnerships and the military to deliver this large and complex vaccination programme.”