From families to pubs, work to travel, what new rules say
FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday unveiled a raft of new restrictions and admitted normal life will not return for some time. They will be reviewed every three weeks but could be in force for months. Here, Scottish Political Editor MICHAEL BLACKLEY looks at the key measures.
CURFEW FOR HOSPITALITY
PUBS, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality businesses will have to close at 10pm from Friday as part of a strict nationwide curfew.
Table service will be required in all premises, and venues must also continue to follow rules including taking contact details of customers, not playing music, and offering hand hygiene measures. People must not gather in groups larger than six from two households.
Council environment wardens and police will be responsible for ensuring hospitality operators stick to the rules.
The Scottish Government said it will provide an extra £2.9million to councils over the next two years to step up inspection and enforcement.
Boris Johnson said that police in England could call on the assistance of the Armed Forces to regulate the new rules if required to free up resources. The Scottish Government said the Armed Forces have played an ‘important role’ responding to the Covid crisis in Scotland but said there are ‘no plans for a request for further assistance’.
INDOOR HOUSEHOLD VISITS
FROM today, people are being told not to visit other households. This is regarded as guidance until Friday, when it will be made legally binding.
The ban also applies to children, but children whose parents do not live together can move between homes.
Other exemptions include couples who don’t live together, who can continue to visit each other’s homes. Single people who live alone can also form an ‘extended household’ with another family or individual adult. Grandparents and others will still be able to enter another house to provide informal childcare.
OUTDOOR GATHERINGS
THE main rules remain unchanged for gatherings in gardens and other outdoor places: a maximum of six people from no more than two households, although people have been asked to limit the number of these visits a day.
Children under 12 do not count towards the maximum number of households or people who can meet outdoors and they do not have to physically distance. Those between 12 and 17 are restricted to the same six-person cap on outdoor meetings. However, there is no limit on the number of households they can meet with – so they are allowed to meet in a group of six people from six different households with physical distancing.
CAR SHARING
DUE to evidence that car journeys are a risk for the spread of the virus, new advice is being brought in advising against car sharing with people from other households. However, those who are part of an ‘extended household’ can still travel together in a car.
WORKING FROM HOME
GUIDANCE states that everyone should work from home if they can. This has been the advice in Scotland since March, with non-essential offices and call centres are expected to remain closed.
Businesses who have encouraged workers back to the office have been urged to ‘rethink’. The Scottish Government believes home working is crucial to keep down the number of people on public transport or gathering indoors for extended periods.
These guidelines will be reviewed every three weeks and further guidance will made available where necessary. In addition, the Scottish Government has said it will consider introducing a ‘legal duty’ on firms to allow home working where possible if it is required.
ENFORCEMENT
ANY breaches of regulations can be punished by a £60 fixed penalty notice. The fines double for repeat offences, up to a maximum of £960. If there is prosecution, a court can impose a fine of up to £5,000, or an unlimited amount dependent on the charge.
Tougher penalties of up to £10,000 are being brought in south of the Border for people who do not self-isolate when told to do so. The Scottish Government said it is keeping the issue ‘under review. Lowearners asked to self-isolate will receive a £500 grant.
THE FUTURE
BORIS Johnson said restrictions are likely to remain in place for at least six months.
Nicola Sturgeon said her measures will ‘not necessarily’ be in force for six months. They will be reviewed every three weeks but are likely to be needed for much longer.
CIRCUIT BREAK
A LEAKED document showed the Scottish Government has the option of ‘circuit breaks’ for short periods to bring down infections. This would be a return to near full lockdown with travel restrictions, the stay at home message and hospitality closures. Miss Sturgeon said no decision has been made on introducing this during next month’s school holidays – but said she is ‘keeping it under review’.