5- TIER SYSTEM
NICOLA STURGEON has revealed the five tiers of lockdown that parts of Scotland will be placed into from next month. The five tiers will form the new Scottish strategy which is expected to be in place for several months over the winter.
The levels would mean: Zero: People can meet indoors up to maximum of eight people from three households.
One: Meet indoors up to people from two households.
Two: Restrictions similar to those outside central belt no gathering in homes and some restrictions on hospitality.
Three: Similar to Glasgow and central belt just now with hospitality mostly closed but with restaurants open.
Four: When transmission is very high. Closer to full lockdown with non essential shops closed but household meetings outdoors would remain.
Schools would be intended to remain open at all levels.
The middle three levels are similar to the English system of Medium, High and Very high.
However, the First Minister said that it was necessary to have a level below, which is where the Scottish Government aspires to be with as low levels of Covid- 19 as possible and also a higher level, to have room to move areas into even tougher measures if cases continue to rise.
Ms Sturgeon said the whole country could be placed in the same level but also parts of the country with lower levels of the virus could be in a lower tier to allow more flexibility.
The framework, Ms Sturgeon said, was being published with an “open mind” and she would be listening to stakeholders in coming days.
Whereas current restrictions are on a health board level, the new levels are expected to be applied to local authority areas.
Which could see Glasgow under different rules and guidance from neighbouring local authorities East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire east Renfrewshire.
The Scottish
Parliament six will vote on the measures next Tuesday and if approved they would take effect on November 2.
The latest daily report showed there were 18 new deaths and 1401 new positive cases with 493 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
There were 975 people in hospital and 76 in intensive care.
The First Minister said the pattern shows measures are having an impact.
She said the increase in cases each week has gone from a 52% rise at the start of October to a rise of 7% over the last week.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Cases are still rising, which is why we cannot be complacent but the rate of increase appears to be slowing down, and that does give us grounds for optimism, albeit, it is still at this stage, quite cautious optimism.” After setting out the strategy the First Minister asked people to think of others and how they might be feeling. She said: “Be kind when people around you are feeling a bit down, or feeling just completely scunnered. We all have days like that.
“And we know that some people, because of their particular circumstances, will be finding it much harder than others. So offer help, if you can, to people in need. Sometimes even just a smile or a kind word helps.”