Latest COVID-19 developments from Scottish Government
In a Statement to Parliament on Tuesday 16 March, the First Minister set out an indicative timetable with the latest COVID-19 developments for the re-opening of parts of the economy over the next two months.
This timetable includes:
From 2 April:
· A lifting of the ‘Stay at Home’ requirement and replacing it with a ‘Stay Local’ message (retaining the current, local authority-based travel restrictions for at least a three-week period)
From 5 April:
· reopening of non-essential ‘click and collect’ retail
· extending the list of retail permitted to include garden centres (indoor and outdoor), key cutting shops, mobility equipment shops, baby equipment shops, electrical repair shops, hairdressers and barbers (with shopfronts – not mobile services) by appointment only, homeware shops and vehicle showrooms (appointment only) and forecourts
From 26 April:
· travel within all of mainland Scotland permitted (subject to other restrictions that remain in place)
· remaining shops can reopen and mobile close contact services can resume
· gyms can reopen for individual exercise
· tourist accommodation to reopen (self-catering accommodation to be restricted in line with rules on indoor gathering)
· work in people’s homes to resume
· driving lessons to resume
· weddings and funerals for up to 50 (including wakes and receptions with no alcohol permitted)
· libraries, museums, galleries re-open
· outdoor hospitality to open till 22:00 with alcohol permitted. Indoor hospitality permitted without alcohol and closing at 20:00
From 17 May:
· further re-opening of hospitality: bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes can stay open until 22:30 indoors with alcohol permitted and 2 hour time-limited slots and until 22:00 outdoors with alcohol permitted
· adult outdoor contact sport and indoor group exercises can resume
· cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls can re-open
· small scale indoor and outdoor events can resume subject to capacity constraints (to be confirmed following stakeholder engagement)
· non-professional performance arts can resume outdoors
June
The First Minister said it is too early to give specific dates beyond May. However, understanding the developments, and the need for people and businesses to plan, from the start of June, it is hoped that Scotland can move back to Level 1 of the Strategic Framework, allowing further relaxation across all areas of the economy and society, while still applying physical distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions and the FACTS guidance.
A move to Level 0 is hoped to be able to take place from the end of June.
Business Support
The last four-weekly Strategic Framework Business Fund payment of up to £3,000 will be paid on 22 March, as scheduled and grants of up to £7,500 for retailers and up to £19,500 for hospitality and leisure businesses will be paid in April to help businesses re-open progressively. These one-off re-start grants will replace ongoing SFBF payments and will provide more money up front to help with the costs of re-opening. Eligible businesses must have applied to the SFBF by 22 March in order to receive these payments.
Further Information on developments:
The Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework is now operational, you can find out exactly which coronavirus lockdown restrictions apply to you by using the Scottish Government’s postcode checker.
The NHS Inform coronavirus webpage is the fastest way for people to get the latest health advice and information.
Safer workplace guidance is released on a sectoral basis and can be found here.
Link to the full indicative timetable https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-timetable-for-easing-restrictions/pages/timetable/
Link to further information on support for businesses https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-timetable-for-easing-restrictions/pages/support-for-business/
Link to the First Minister’s statement https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-update-march-16-2021/
Link to News Release https://www.gov.scot/news/timetable-for-further-lockdown-easing/