Change in Covid restrictions 19 December 2020
As we have seen, a recent rise in cases has resulted in the increasing of restrictions in Aberdeenshire from Level 2 to Level 3, starting from 6pm on Friday 18 December.
In this rapidly changing situation, a new variant of the virus has become known - with a small, but increasing, number of cases already in Scotland.
All four Governments and administrations across the UK are acting on advice from the UK Chief Medical Officer.
There is no evidence of this new variant being any more lethal or of being more resistant to any of the approved vaccines, but this new strain is estimated to be about 70% more transmittible.
As always, I encourage constituents to follow the new rules and guidelines - if only to avoid an escallation in the situation, leading to more strict restrictions later.
The new rules in Scotland, announced by the First Minister are as follows:
- Travel between Scotland and rest of UK os not allowed apart from the usual essential reasons (health, work, education etc)
- Same goes for non-essential foreign travel
- The previously agreed, ‘Christmas Bubble’, arrangements still apply (no more than 8 people from 3 households meeting indoors) but only for Christmas Day
- At all other times, we should not visit each other’s homes unless for essential purposes (such as home caring or in a support bubble)
- Travel within Scotland allowed on Christmas Day only
- From Boxing Day onwards, for three weeks, the whole of mainland Scotland will be placed in Level 4 (Island communities will go to level 3)
- Schools plan to open as scheduled in the New Year - initially only for vulnerable children and those of key workers.
- Schools will open for other pupils on 11 January but online/virtual only until 18 January at earliest.
- All of the above will be kept under review
Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are and whomever you are with, it is vitally important that we all continue to protect ourselves and each other by continuing to follow the basic social-distancing and hygiene measures with which we have all become familiar.
For full details of restrictions introduced by the Scottish Government click here: Coronavirus in Scotland - gov.scot
