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New Five Tier System for Scotland Unveiled

Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled new Covid restrictions for Scotland today, the new five tier system will come into force from 6:00 am on Monday 2 November.

Published: 29 October 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:31 PM
Fife coastal path from Burntisland to Kirkcaldy photographed from above, the path is empty.
In Level 1, for areas with the second lowest levels of infection, the latest government plan envisages the opening of music venues and theatre.

The First Minister laid out how the five tiers will apply across the country’s local authorities and will apply as follows:

Level 3 – Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian, West Lothian, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling, Dundee.

Level 2 – Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll & Bute, Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Fife, Perth & Kinross.

Level 1 – Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles.

Areas can be moved to different tiers in the future depending on whether it is felt the situation is improving or getting worse, with weekly reviews being carried out.

  • In Level 1, for areas with the second lowest levels of infection, the latest government plan envisages the opening of music venues and theatres, and the go-ahead for “small seated indoor events.”
  • In Level 3, although the rules on hospitality businesses in this level have been relaxed to allow bars and restaurant to reopen on the same basis as cafes, including a ban on selling alcohol, arts venues must wait. For all those hospitality businesses that are open from next week, they will still have to operate under a ban on background music.
  • It was advised that anyone living in a level three area should not travel outside the council area they live in except for "essential reasons" such as work, outdoor exercise, essential shopping or healthcare or caring reasons. Anyone living in a level one or two area must not travel to a level three or four area unless it is essential.

For further detailed information see the Scottish Government’s page on Scotland’s Strategic Framework.

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