Six changes to Scotland's lockdown – with essential click & collect ONLY & new takeaway rules
NICOLA Sturgeon has announced six tougher rules for the lockdown in Scotland, including limiting click and collect services to essential shops and cracking down on take aways.
The First Minister announced tougher lockdown rules this lunchtime, warning Scots the country faces a "very precarious and extremely serious" situation.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The First Minister said it gave her "no pleasure" to announce further restrictions on businesses trying to stay afloat, but warned: "This new variant is so widespread and so contagious, we need to be as effective as we can be to stop it spreading.
"That does mean taking further steps to stop people interacting indoors and also outdoors. Today's measures will help us achieve that."
She said the fresh rules were a "regrettable but necessary" means to an end.
1. ESSENTIAL CLICK & COLLECT ONLY
People living on mainland Scotland will only be allowed to access click and collect services for stores which are already deemed essential, such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
And people can only order a handful of items, including clothes, shoes, baby equipment and books.
Ms Sturgeon told Parliament: "Only retailers selling essential items will be allowed to offer click and collect.
"This will include, for example, clothes and footwear, baby equipment, homeware and books. All other click and collect services must stop."
And people who do use click and collect services will need to book ahead to prevent any crowding.
Ms Sturgeon heaped praise on shops, such as John Lewis, who have already suspended their click and collect services to avoid spreading the virus.
She said: "For click and collect services that are allowed, staggered appointments will need to be offered to avoid any potential for queuing, and access inside premises for collection will not be permitted."
"I know that businesses affected by this change will be disappointed, and that many have gone to great lengths to make services as safe as possible."
The First Minister said the changes were essential to cut down on the list of reasons for anyone to leave their home.
2. TAKEAWAY CRACK DOWN
People living in mainland Scotland will only be allowed to pick up takeaway food and drink if they are collecting it through a serving hatch or doorstep, Ms Sturgeon said today.
Going inside a restaurant or cafe to collect a takeaway will be banned.
3. BOOZE BAN
Ms Sturgeon also announced a shocking ban on drinking booze anywhere outdoors.
The First Minister admitted it would not be a "popular move".
"At the moment, different parts of Scotland have different laws in relation to the consumption of alcohol in outdoor public places.
"However, from Saturday, it will be against the law in all Level 4 areas of Scotland to drink alcohol outdoors in public."
She said buying a takeaway pint and drinking it outdoors will therefore be banned.
Takeaway alcohol has already been banned in England's lockdown.
4. 'ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY'
Ms Sturgeon also closed a key loophole in the regulations which lets people stay outside for a non-essential purpose, if they left home for an essential reason, such as buying groceries.
The First Minister said: "I want to be clear that this does not change the range of essential purposes that currently enable people to leave their house – nor does it, for example, put any time limit on how long you can be outdoors for essential exercise.
"But it does mean that if the police challenge you for being out of the house doing something that is not essential, it will not be a defence to say you initially left the house to do something that was."
5. WORK FROM HOME
Ms Sturgeon also strengthened rules on working from home.
She slammed employers who had asked their staff to go back to workplaces during the lockdown.
There will now be legal guidance telling employers to support their staff to work from home wherever possible.
The First Minister said: "For all employers, the basic but vital message is this – if your staff were working from home during the first lockdown, they should be working from home now and you should be facilitating that."
6. 'ESSENTIAL' WORKS
Guidance on working in other peoples homes was also strengthened by Ms Sturgeon.
People are already told that they should only work in another person's home if it is "essential" for the "upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household".
But the advice will not be made law, meaning anyone who breaks it will face fines.
Source: Read Full Article