Restrictions on meetings in indoor household settings have been extended to people living in Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire.
The current limits on indoor gatherings for people living in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire will also continue for at least a further seven days.
The restrictions follow a recent increase in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases with 78 new cases reported yesterday in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde area and 92 new cases on Sunday.
From midnight last night, the revised restrictions are:
people in the Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire local authority areas should not meet with people from other households in indoor household settings.
People from these areas should also not meet people in indoor household settings in other local authority areas. Members of different households can continue to meet outdoors, including in gardens, and in hospitality settings, provided all existing guidance is followed.
indoor visits to hospitals and care homes will be limited to essential visits only to protect the most vulnerable. Outdoor visits to care homes are permitted by three people from a maximum of two households, in line with current guidance.
if anyone living in these areas is identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they and all those in their household group should self-isolate for 14 days.
The Scottish Government and local authorities will monitor hospitality over the coming days to see whether restrictions should be extended.
Those households who have formed an extended household and people providing care and support – for example caring for an elderly family member or delivering shopping – can continue to meet indoors with enhanced hygiene measures in place.
People living in all affected local authority areas who were previously shielding are asked to be particularly vigilant.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Over recent weeks, we have seen a continued increase in new COVID-19 cases in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board area.
“Having looked at where cases are being identified, the advice from the public health experts managing this outbreak is that restrictions on indoor gatherings should be extended to Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire and continue for at least a further seven days in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.
“I understand this will not be welcome news for people living in these areas but it is necessary to help us limit the spread of COVID-19. Acting now gives us the time and the space to protect people and get more control over the virus.
“I would ask everyone to be extra vigilant, to follow all guidance and to isolate and book a test if they have any symptoms. Above all, I want to emphasise that getting a test – and even getting a negative result – is not a substitute for self-isolating. If you have symptoms, or if you are contacted by our Test and Protect team and told to do so, you will need to self-isolate.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Director of Public Health, Dr Linda de Caestecker, said: “We know it’s not much fun right now not being able to socialise as we would like to and Covid has gone on much longer than any of us would want.
“However the only way we are going to beat this is by working together and sticking by the rules. Please limit your contacts and by doing this you’re not only protecting yourself but also your friends and family.”
The current restrictions will be reviewed every seven days in discussion with local partners.
The Scottish Government has not ruled out extending restrictions if necessary to protect public health.
Remember FACTS for a safer Scotland:
F – Face coverings. These should be used in shops and on public transport (buses, trains and taxis)
A – Avoid crowded places
C – Clean your hands frequently, using water & soap whenever possible
T – Two metres – observe physical distancing
S – Self-isolate and book a test if you are suffering from COVID-19 symptoms
Senior public health officials have expressed concerns over the sharp rise in COVID cases across the UK over recent days.
2,948 UK cases were recorded on Monday, according to UK government data. This follows 2,988 new cases announced on Sunday – the highest figure since 22 May.
Caerphilly becomes the first county in Wales to face lockdown from 6pm tonight and other areas across the UK have shown upward trends. Scientists are concerned that too many members of the public are not listening to public health advice and an increasing number have become complacent.
England’s deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tamm said: “If we don’t take this incredibly seriously from this point in we are going to have a bumpy ride over the next few months.”
Guidance published to ensure safe return for salons
Hairdressers and barbers are preparing to re-open on Wednesday 15 July under the Scottish Government’s route map out of lockdown.
New guidance has been published to ensure salons can safely re-open.
The guidance also covers services such as beauty salons, spas, indoor photography studios and make-up counters which have been given an indicative opening date of 22 July.
Key measures include:
physical distancing with marked areas between seats and treatment stations
perspex screens installed at workstations, including reception areas if possible
bookings by appointment only with times staggered to minimise overlap of clients
the retention of customer details for four weeks to share details for Test and Protect if required
face coverings mandatory for staff and customers with visors recommended for staff
reading materials and refreshments removed other than water on request
Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills Jamie Hepburn said: “The re-opening of hairdressers and barbers next week signals a further step out of lockdown for our economy and shows that we continue to make progress in successfully suppressing coronavirus (COVID-19).
“If everyone sticks to the rules we will be able to drive the virus down further and live less restricted lives in the weeks and months ahead.
“Our guidance, developed in partnership with employers, industry bodies and trades unions, provides the information these businesses need to ensure the safety of staff and customers as they re-open.
“People should look for those safety measures and be aware of the need to follow the FACTS at all times when out in the community. If you don’t see those safety measures, or you don’t feel you can follow appropriate hygiene rules, than don’t take the risk.
“We are providing grant support worth over £1 billion to businesses as part of a wider support package worth over £2.3 billion and we will continue to do all we can to support this vital sector.”
Hilary Hall, chief executive of the National Hair and Beauty Federation, said: “The Scottish hair and beauty industry generates a turnover of over £600 million, which is 8% of the UK total.
“As well as the economic contribution, this sector is also imperative to our well-being and so we are delighted that hairdressers and barbers will be able to return to work on 15 July.
“Protecting clients and employees is their top priority so our members have already been preparing their salons to make them safe to re-open. They are reporting that they are fully booked for the near future which is positive news and should mean that businesses can recover and grow from the pandemic.”
Statement given by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Friday 10 July):
Good afternoon, thank you for joining us.I’ll start with the usual update on the most recent COVID-19 statistics. An additional 18 positive cases were confirmed yesterday – which takes the total now in Scotland to 18,333.
Now today’s figure for new cases is very low and we’re always going to see day to day variations in the data but I think it is probably worth noting that this is the highest figure we have seen in almost three weeks.
So we will, as you would expect, be looking into this very closely today. And while we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions – there’s no reason for us to do that yet – I think it is a sharp reminder to all of us that this virus as I keep saying hasn’t gone away – it is still present out there.
So I’d ask you to remember that in everything you do.
A total of 668 patients are currently in hospital with the virus – either confirmed or suspected. Which is 22 more than yesterday, but it includes a reduction of five in the number of confirmed cases.
A total of 12 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected COVID. That is three more than yesterday. One of those is confirmed, the other two suspected.
And since 5 March, a total of 4,115 patients who had tested positive and been admitted to hospital have now been discharged from hospital.
And I am very pleased to report that during the past 24 hours, no deaths were registered of a patient confirmed through a test as having the virus and the total number of deaths therefore remains at 2,490. Of course that’s the number under that measurement of patients who test positive through a test.
Once again, I want to convey my condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus.
And I also want to thank our health and care workers for the incredible work they continue to do.
I am joined today by the Economy Secretary – who is going to talk in a few minutes about £38 million of support that the Scottish Government is providing for new companies, in crucial sectors of the economy, which have been affected by the pandemic.
Before that, though, I want to go over some of the key changes that the Scottish Government has announced, which will take effect over this weekend and into next week.
Before I do that though I want to remind you of what I said literally just a few seconds ago. This virus hasn’t gone away so life should still not feel totally normal. The lifting of restrictions, important and welcome though it undoubtedly is, mustn’t mean the dropping of our guard. And that’s really important.
We have been in lockdown for more than three months now. But being in lockdown ourselves has meant that the virus has also been in lockdown.
As we come out of lockdown unfortunately we let it out again too. So we have to work, in a sense, even harder to make sure that it doesn’t get those opportunities to spread.
So as you think about the changes – as you think about doing things that none of us have had the opportunity to do for three months – I appeal to all of you to think even more carefully about the basic things all of us can do and – I would argue – have a duty to do – to try to make sure this virus doesn’t spread again.
But let me start with two of the things which will happen from next Wednesday – 15 July.
As many of you know, and as many of you, myself included, have been eagerly anticipating, hairdressers will reopen on the 15th. And I want to say that detailed guidance for hairdressers has now been published and therefore if you are a hairdresser or if you are planning to visit a hairdresser and want to know what that guidance says, you can find it now on the Scottish Government website.
In addition, I announced yesterday that more people would be allowed to attend services for weddings, civil partnerships and funerals, but these would be subject to a cap on numbers.
I can therefore confirm that from Wednesday onwards, a maximum – at this stage – of 20 people will be able to attend a funeral, marriage or civil partnership ceremonies or service, wherever it is taking place.
We are also removing the restrictions on the categories of people who can attend funerals – in many cases previously attendance was limited to immediate family only.
And I want to stress two points about these changes.
Firstly, and I think this is an important one for me to stress and for everybody watching to understand, that these changes apply only to services and ceremonies – other gatherings associated with them, such as wedding receptions and funeral wakes, are still subject to the rules that apply for all other indoor and outdoor gatherings.
And secondly, the limit of 20 people is still subject to strict rules on physical distancing – so if the venue that you are having a ceremony or service in can’t accommodate 20 people when physical distancing rules are in place, the number of guests will have to be smaller.
So I hope this provides some clarity for anyone who has a wedding or civil partnership in the second half of July – or for anyone who, unfortunately, is having to arrange a funeral.
We know that the restrictions on funeral services in particular have been incredibly tough – in many cases utterly heart-breaking. I therefore hope that this change is a helpful one although of course it still doesn’t permit full scale gatherings for weddings, civil partnerships, or funerals.
It is, with a limit of 20, still quite restrictive. But at present, we consider that to be a necessary precaution – but that limit will be reviewed again at the end of July.
Let me now briefly summarise the key changes which take effect from today.
First of all, it is now compulsory to wear a face covering in shops, as well as on public transport, and Jason Leitch is going to talk a bit more about that later.
There are exemptions to this – for children under 5, people with certain health conditions and in some circumstances for staff – but we encourage staff in those circumstances offer to wear face coverings.
For the vast majority of us, as customers, it is now the law that we wear face coverings in shops.
Now some people ask – and I’ve been asked this question in recent days – why we are doing this now – when the virus has been suppressed to low levels.
And the reason is quite simple – we are now starting to go out and about a lot more, and that, as I have said a moment ago, brings much greater risks of the virus spreading. So we have to put in place mitigations now that weren’t as necessary when we were all staying at home all of the time to reduce the risk of that happening.
The law coming into force today should not need to be enforced – but the police can issue fines if necessary.
But I am asking everybody to stick to the law – not from fear of enforcement, but because it is the right thing to do – it helps keep us and other people safe. I encourage people to see wearing a face covering when you go to the shops, to become as automatic as putting a seatbelt on is in a car already.
If you wear a face covering in a shop, or on a bus or a train, it reduces your chances of passing the virus on to other people. And other people – when they wear a face covering – reduce their chances of passing the virus on to you.
It is one of the ways in which we can show care for and solidarity with each other – and allow each other to live less restricted lives, without seeing a resurgence in the virus. So please, everybody, comply with this, because it is for the good of all of us – it will help keep us safe and protect everybody.
And the last point I want to address about this – and it’s again a point that’s been put to me – that it’s not very comfortable to wear a face covering. And the first thing I would say is yeah, I recognise that, but also you do get used to it, and I say that from personal experience.
You get used to it, and it becomes less uncomfortable the more you do it.
But the second, and perhaps most important thing to reflect on is this – our health and care workers in the course of their jobs to keep us safe wear masks for 12 hour shifts. Surgeons will wear them for lengthy, hours-long operations.
This is a small thing that we can do for them and for each other. So, please, comply with this. Not because the law tells you to, even although it does. Comply with it because it is about that solidarity and looking out for each other, and through this whole experience looking out for the protection of our health.
Now there are other rules which come into force from today, which affect how we can meet up with each other.
If you are in a shielding category, from today, we are not asking you any longer to physically distance from the people you live with.
You will also be able to form an extended household if you live on your own or with children under the age of 18. And I know how tough the last few months have been for all of you who have been shielding – and I hope that these latest changes are helpful and welcome for many of you.
The other changes that come into effect today don’t apply to people who are shielding, unfortunately. But they do apply to everyone else.
From today, if you are part of a non-cohabiting couple, regardless of your living arrangements, you don’t need to stay physically distant from each other, indoors or outdoors.
For everyone else there are some important changes to the rules for meeting up.
For outdoor meetings, a maximum of 15 people from up to five different households can now meet together, and limited indoor gatherings – subject to the strict guidance – are also now permitted.
These should involve a maximum of eight adults, from up to three households in total.
So if you are thinking of having people attend, you can invite people from two other households, because your household as the house holder is part of the three that is permitted.
As long as physical distancing between different households is maintained, this can include overnight stays.
But we’d recommend that in total, you should not meet with people from more than four different households in any single day – that applies to adults.
So if, for example, you have an outdoor meeting with four other households in the afternoon, don’t then invite a couple of friends over in the evening.
The ability to meet indoors – even in small numbers – is a simple pleasure that has been hard-earned by all of us. So enjoy it, but please, please be very careful. Remember why we have only now started to allow any indoor meetings – it’s because the risk of transmitting this virus indoors, is higher – and it is significantly higher than it is outdoors.
So if you are able to meet outdoors – if the weather allows – don’t rule that out. That is still the safest way of meeting up with friends and family.
But if you do meet indoors – take care, and follow all of the public health advice.
Keep 2 metres distant from people in other households; clean surfaces after people are touching them; wash your hands regularly – and especially wash your hands the first time you go into somebody’s house.
If we do all of that, then this is not risk free, but we will minimise the number of opportunities the virus has to spread.
And that is the point I want to end on.
Covid cases right now in Scotland are very low. But – as today’s figures remind us – we are still seeing new cases every day. The virus hasn’t gone away. It’s just as infectious as it ever was, and it’s just as dangerous as it ever was.
And if we let it run out of control again, not only will that be very damaging to life and to health, but it will also set back the economic recovery that is so important now to our wider lives.
So that’s why I keep stressing and will end with a reminder of the Facts that we’re asking people to remember and comply with:
Face coverings in shops and public transport – that’s the law, but in any enclosed space where physical distancing is difficult
Avoid crowded places – indoors but also outdoors
Clean your hands and hard surfaces regularly
Two metre distancing remains the rule
and self isolate, and book a test, if you have symptoms.
If all of us remember and abide by these five measures, then we have the best possible chance as we interact with each other much more of nevertheless keeping this virus under control.
