The First Minister has outlined new regulations on face coverings and details of how businesses affected by last week’s temporary restrictions can apply for support.
She made the announcement ahead of the next review of Covid restrictions, due to take place tomorrow (Friday, 16 October).
With trends showing high numbers of new cases, the First Minister confirmed to the Scottish Parliament that all of the existing Covid restrictions and guidance will remain in place for now, namely that:
- People should continue to work from home where possible
- Nobody should visit other people’s houses – except for extended household arrangements or essential reasons like childcare or looking after a vulnerable person
- Gatherings must be limited to a maximum of six people from no more than two households both outdoors and public places indoors
- Bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes outside the five health board areas with tougher restrictions can only open indoors until 6pm for the service of food and non-alcoholic drinks
- People should not travel to Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley, where there are tighter restrictions, unless absolutely necessary
- People should avoid travel to areas of high risk in other parts of the UK, details of which will be kept updated on the Scottish Government website
- Specifically, people should not travel to Blackpool unless necessary
The First Minister went on to introduce new regulations on face coverings, with two measures due to come into force from tomorrow (Friday, 16 October).
- Couples will not have to wear face coverings during their marriage or civil partnership ceremony.
- From tomorrow, anybody in a workplace canteen will have to wear a face covering when they are not seated at a table (e.g. when queuing, entering or leaving the canteen, or going to the bathroom)
A further change affecting workplaces will take effect from Monday, 19 October: From Monday, it will be a requirement for face coverings to be worn in other communal workplaces such as corridors.