In this article, I am going to be talking all about the rules that are changing in Scotland. The minister has actually confirmed that from Monday 19th July, almost all parts of Scotland will be in level zero of covert restrictions. However, this move will actually be made with a lot of modifications to the previously announced restrictions.
What exactly are the level zero restrictions?
Now, this is a fantastic question, for people who have no idea what the level zero restrictions are.
These are the restrictions, according to the rules. Indoors, eight people can meet, and these can be people from four households. Up to 10 people from more than four households can actually meet up in public spaces. This means you can meet people in pubs or even restaurants. Up to 50 people from more than 15 households can meet outdoors in places like gardens and public spaces. Children who are under the age of 12 do not count towards the total number of people. From Monday, they will not count towards the total number of households either. In level zero, more than 200 people can attend a wedding. Play centres can actually open. If we are talking about hospitality businesses, there is absolutely no requirement for customers to pre-book, to go to a pub or even a restaurant. Customers will still be required to provide contact details. They will still be required to wear a face mask or a face covering except when they are seated.
There will actually be some limits as to the size of the events that you can host. You can host an event with 400 people indoors. If you are hosting an event that has seating, you can host an event with 2000 people.
The hospitality venues can actually close at midnight in the level zero restrictions. The requirement to distance people has actually removed. Outdoors, there will still be a limit on the number of people that can gather. There will actually be no requirement to distance within a group of 15. For the next three weeks, there will be a requirement of 1 m distancing between groups of 15 people. The gradual return to office will also begin from 9 August.
It is also important to understand that nightclubs will remain closed at 11 zero. There have been some other announcements that were made. The First Minister said that the mandatory wearing of face coverings will remain in some places.
It was also announced that an intention to end the blanket requirement for a lot of close contacts to self isolate. They will also publish the guidance, shortly allowing people to not isolate even if they are double vaccinated.