Scotland moving to Level 0

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that almost all remaining Covid rules in Scotland will be removed on Monday 9^th August as the country gets set to move to level 0. Most legal restrictions will be removed on that date, also some measures will remain.

What’s changing?

• Nightclubs and adult entertainment venues will be able to open with baseline measures in place (including face coverings and the mandatory collection of customer/visitor contact details).
• There will no longer be a requirement to physically distance from other people and there will be no limits on the number of people you can meet but everyone should continue to avoid crowded places and try to keep a distance from those not in your social groups, where possible.
• There will no longer be any caps on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and civil partnerships. However, face coverings will still be required in indoor public places unless exemptions apply.
• Individuals who have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination under a UK Government programme (and 2 weeks to allow the vaccine to take effect), and return a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, will no longer need to self-isolate as a close contact but should self-isolate at home while they book the test and wait for the results. However, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will still be required to self-isolate for ten days.
• Businesses can start to allow employees to return to offices, taking account of the needs of the business and employees themselves. We will however continue to advise employers to support employees to work from home by enabling hybrid working, where that is appropriate.

What’s remaining?

• By law, face coverings must be worn in all indoor public places, including public transport unless an exemption applies. In all other settings, such as outdoor events and crowded places, the use of face coverings is encouraged. While we expect the return of large-scale events we will, for a limited period, keep in place the processes through which organisers of outdoor events of more than 5000 and indoor events of more than 2000 will have to apply for permission to local authorities.
• Continued compliance with Test and Protect (including self-isolation when necessary). The recording of customer/visitor contact details is mandatory and must be implemented in all hospitality settings.
• Table service will no longer be mandatory but will continue to be encouraged.
• International travel – some border controls have been retained to help protect against the risk of importing new strains of the virus from abroad. Travel restrictions will be imposed as and when necessary. Continued promotion of good ventilation, good hand hygiene and surface cleaning

Read the First Minister’s statement by clicking here.