In Wednesday’s announcement of further measures to curb coronavirus in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon introduced “more comprehensive restrictions across the central belt.”
These new measures will affect around 3.4 million people, the majority of the population.
In this area of five health boards, licensed premises will have to shut indoors and outdoors to all but takeaway customers from Friday.
The measures come into force at 6pm, and will last for 16 days until October 25.
Here’s where the tighter rules, which also include guidance on travel, activities and events, will be in place, and what they include.
The health boards under further restrictions
Ayrshire & Arran (North, South and East Ayrshire)
Forth Valley (Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling)
Greater Glasgow & Clyde (Glasgow City, East and West Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde)
Lanarkshire (North and South Lanarkshire)
Lothian (Edinburgh City, East and West Lothian, Midlothian)
Hospitality
Licensed premises across the central belt will have to close both indoor and outdoor services, although takeaway can continue.
Cafes which do not have an alcohol license can remain open, but only until 6pm.
Hotels can serve food but no alcohol to residents only.
Specific ‘life events’ such as weddings and funerals can continue with alcohol as long as current rules are abided by.
Outwith the central belt area, pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to open, but only until 6pm indoors and with no alcohol served.
They may serve alcohol outdoors until 10pm, with current rules on distancing and mixing of households in place.
Travel
People in the five health boards under tougher restrictions have also been asked to avoid public transport unless absolutely necessary in the next two weeks, and use it only when travelling to work, school or for other unavoidable reasons.
While a travel restriction is not being enforced on people in these areas, Ms Sturgeon urged residents not to travel beyond their own health boards, and for those elsewhere in Scotland not to visit them.
Other activities
Snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling alleys, casinos and bingo halls will close in these areas for two weeks from October 10, with contact sports and indoor group exercise for those 18 and over suspended for the same period.
Gyms can remain open for individual exercise.
Outdoor live events will be banned in the five areas for the next two weeks.
Shielding
Those who were in the shielding category at the start of lockdown won’t be recommended to return to staying at home.
They have been asked to take extra care, especially in the central belt.
Information on infection levels will be accessible via the Public Health Scotland website.
The reasoning
A document was released shortly before the announcement of the new restrictions.
In it are details of Covid prevalence in Scotland and the evidence the Scottish Government says justifies the introduction of further measures.
The First Minister said that more than a fifth of people contacted by Test and Protect tracers had reported visiting a hospitality setting.
Scotland’s R number appears to have risen above 1 around three weeks after the reopening of hospitality venues.
The full document can be viewed below.
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