lifting 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)
5 April
We will continue to monitor closely this encouraging data. Assuming that all goes well, our next significant milestone for easing restrictions will be 5 April, when we plan to ease a wider range of current restrictions in level 4 areas (some of these activities/settings are already permitted/open in Level 3 island communities) including:
the resumption of outdoor contact sport for 12-17 year olds
return of college students within the top three priority groups identified by Colleges Scotland as most likely not to complete this academic year (estimated as 29% of learners)
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
° vehicle showrooms (appointment only) and forecourts
The prohibition of in-home socialising will continue to be kept under review at this date.
12/19 April, depending on term times
all children back to school full-time
26 April
Subject to supply, by mid-April, we plan to have offered the vaccine to priority vaccine groups 1-9, based on the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation advice for protecting the most vulnerable in our population. Assuming the data allows it, we expect a more significant reopening of the economy and society from 26 April. This will likely include the following easings (some of these activities/settings are already permitted/open in Level 3 island communities).
extending outdoor socialising to permit up to 6 people from up to 3 households to gather
allowing 12-17 year olds to meet outdoors in groups of 6 from up to 6 households
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 and swimming pools 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
non-essential childcare permitted
driving lessons and tests 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 10pm with alcohol permitted. Indoor hospitality permitted without alcohol and closing at 8pm
social mixing in indoor public places will be subject to current maximum of 4 people from up to 2 households
The prohibition of in-home socialising will continue to be kept under review at this date.
17 May
Three weeks on from the publication of the last update, and given the progress with the vaccination programme and what we have learned about its impact on reducing transmission of the virus, we are now in a position to add a new indicative date for further easing of restrictions. From 17 May we hope to introduce the following easings:
re-introducing in-home socialising for up to 4 people from up to 2 households
further re-opening of hospitality: bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes can stay open until 10.30pm indoors with alcohol permitted and 2 hour time-limited slots and until 10pm outdoors with alcohol permitted
adult outdoor contact sport and indoor group exercises can resume
cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls can re-open subject to capacity constraints
small scale indoor and outdoor events can resume subject to capacity constraints (to be confirmed following stakeholder engagement)
colleges and universities can return to a more blended model of learning
more in-person (face-to-face) support services can resume
non-professional performance arts can resume outdoors
June
We know that the coronavirus is unpredictable and is adept at mutating in order to survive. It is also vital that we allow enough time between different sets of easings to assess what effect they have had on the R number and other virus indicators. For that reason, it is too early now to give specific dates beyond May. However, we understand the need for people and businesses to plan and so, to give a broad sense of likely timings, from the start of June, we would aim for Scotland to move back to Level 1. This will allow further relaxation across all areas of the economy and society, while still applying physical distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions and the FACTS guidance. From the end of June, we hope that we will be able to move to Level 0.
We must also be prepared to pause if the data shows that the virus is spreading again. We will act decisively to reapply higher levels of restrictions to manage localised outbreaks should the need arise. This could be on a local or regional basis, depending on the nature of the outbreak. However, we will not leave any restrictions in place for any longer than they are necessary to meet our responsibility to safeguard the people of Scotland.
Early June
up to 6 people from up to 3 households can socialise indoors in a home or public place
up to 8 people from 3 households can socialise outdoors.
8 12-17 year olds can meet socially from 8 households outdoors
hospitality can remain open until 11pm
attendance at events can increase, subject to capacity constraints
indoor non-contact sport can take place.
increased numbers at life events and places of worship subject to stakeholder engagement
casinos, funfairs and soft play can open, subject to capacity constraints
From end of June
up to 6 people from up to 3 households can socialise indoors in a home or public place.
a phased return of some office staff
events increase numbers subject to capacity constraints
increased numbers at life events and places of worship subject to stakeholder engagement
You should:
wear a face covering
avoid crowded places
clean hands and surfaces regularly
stay 2m away from other people
self-isolate and book a testif you have COVID-19 symptoms (new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste)
The CGS Youth Climate Film Project is now complete, and we now have 3 films (almost) ready to enter the national Young Reporter for the Environment competition. These will be featured on the website https://www.takeoneaction.org.uk/ There will be a Zoom viewing for friends and family on the 22nd of April, and an awards ceremony arranged by KSB on the 30th of April.
Well done to all young people involved!
Also
A photographer from Interfaith Scotland will be in the garden on the 30/3/21 to take pictures and highlight the work we've done over the year for Interfaith week. Janet will be there, but she'd like to see a few staff members, so anyone else willing to be there should turn up at 1.30pm.
Our WSREC Café is today (Thursday) at 1pm. We will be looking at the COVID-19 updates in Scotland, discussing the ease of lockdown and at the end of the session will be doing some chair exercises as well. Please wear suitable clothing and have access to an upright for the virtual exercises.
Young people and job seekers in communities across Scotland will be able to access free training to support work skills and career prospects through a new portal launched 9 March.
