First minster unveils four-phase plan for easing lockdown

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has addressed the Scottish Parliament with a four-phase route map to take Scotland out of its current lockdown restrictions.

In parliament she said:  “There is no risk-free way of exiting lockdown, but we must mitigate the risk as much as we can.”

She added: “The danger of a second wave later in the year is very real indeed."

Ms Sturgeon also said that the plans are not set to exact time scales, and the three-week review period for each phase will continue to remain in place.

The route map published by the Scottish Government today is high-level - with the First Minister saying further detail will be laid out in the days and weeks ahead.

The Scottish Government will now publish how it calculates the R number - the rate at which the virus infects people.

Ms Sturgeon further told the Scottish Parliament the government believes the R number in Scotland has been below one for the last three weeks.

In March it is believed the R number was above four.

The Scottish Government’s “test, trace and isolate” approach will be called test and protect.

Those with Covid-19 symptoms in the community and those who test positive and their close contacts will still be asked to self-isolate.

The method will be used to stop cases of coronavirus becoming clusters, which the government says could develop into an uncontrolled peak and place Scotland back into lockdown.

The phases at which Scotland will ease lockdown restrictions are as follows:


PHASE ONE - FROM MAY 28


Seeing friends and family and gathering

People should be able to use public outdoor spaces for recreational purposes, including sitting outside.

One household will be able to meet up with another household in small numbers, including in gardens, but with social distancing rules being adhered too. 

Business, employment and employers and workplaces

Workplaces are due to reopen in this phase for those who cannot work from home.

Businesses will be encouraged to manage travel demand through staggered start times and flexible working patterns.

Work at outdoor work places will also restart once final guidance has been agreed.

A safe reopening of the housing market is also planned.

Travel

Travelling short distances for outdoor leisure and exercise will also be permitted (advice is up to five miles) but using walking and cycling where possible. 

International border measures such as checks at airports will also be introduced. 

Education

Guidance will be changed so more teachers can enter schools and an increased number of children can access critical care.

This will include the re-opening of childminding services and fully outdoor nursery provision. 

Pupils transitioning into primary one and secondary one will receive additional support during this phase.

However, it is expected schools will NOT be returning properly until August 11, and only on a part-time basis to allow social distancing.

Shopping, eating and drinking out 

There will be a gradual opening of drive-through food outlets.

Garden centres and plant nurseries will also reopen with physical distancing in place.

Garden centre cafes will not reopen at this time unless it is for takeaway service only. 

Sport. Culture and Leisure 

Unrestricted outdoor exercise that adheres to distancing measures will be allowed.

Non-contact outdoor activities such as golf, hiking, canoeing, outdoor swimming and angling will also be allowed. 

Community and public services:

There will be a gradual resumption of key support services in the community. 

Face-to-face children's hearings will resume and social work and support services will have  greater contact with at-risk families. 

Respite and day care support services will also be made available to support unpaid carers and families with a disabled family members.

 

PHASE TWO
In addition to measures laid out in phase one:


Seeing friends and family and gathering

Larger groups of family and friends would be able to meet outside with social distancing measured observed.

You would be able to meet people from another household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures.

Health and social care

Remobilisation plans will be implemented by health boards to increase provision to deal with backlogs caused by the pandemic.
Chronic disease management services will also be reintroduced.

There would be an expansion of GP services, optometry and ophthalmology services.

The availability of dental services would also increase.

There would also be an increased number of home visits to shielded patients.

Phased visiting to care homes of family members would also take place in a managed way.

Business, employment and employers and workplaces

Indoor non-office-based workplaces can resume once relevant guidance has been agreed. This includes factories and warehouses, lab and research facilities with social distancing in place.

There would also be a relaxation on the rules on moving home. 

Travel

People will be able to drive locally for leisure and exercise purposes.

Public transport would begin operating at an increased capacity but still be significantly limited to allow for social distancing. 

Travel at peak times would remain discouraged as far as possible. 

There may be geographical differences in approaches to transport depending on circumstances.

Education

On-campus university lab research would restart subject to social distancing.

Shopping, eating and drinking out 

Small retail units will be allowed to reopen with physical distancing in place.

Outdoor markets would also reopen with controls on distancing, attendee numbers and hygiene measures. 

Sport. Culture and Leisure 

Playgrounds and sports courts will be reopened with physical distancing.

Professional sport will also resume in line with public health advice.

Community and public services:

Public services from phase one will be scaled up wherever possible.

 

PHASE THREE
In addition to measures laid out in phases one and two:


Seeing friends and family and gathering

You will be able to meet with people from more than one household indoors with social distancing and hygiene measures.

People can meet in extended groups subject to social distancing.

Places of worship can reopen to extended groups subject to physical distancing and hygiene safeguards.

Rules on attendees to funerals, marriages and civil partnerships will also be relaxed. 

Health and social care

Screening services and adult flu vaccinations will be expanded at home and in care homes.

All dental practices will begin to see registered patients.

All community optometry will reopen with social distancing safeguards. 

Some communal living experience can be restarted when it is clinically safe to do so.

Business, employment and employers and workplaces

Remote working remains the default position for those who can.

Indoor office workplaces including contact centres can reopen, once relevant guidance has been agreed and with physical distancing.

Travel

Travel beyond your local area for leisure and exercise purposes will be allowed.

Public transport will be operating full services but with capacity significantly limited to allow for physical distancing.

Travel at peak times will still be discouraged.

There may be geographical differences in arrangements depending on local circumstances

Education

Children will return to school under a blended model of part-time in-school teaching and part-time in-home learning. 

Strict social distancing will be in place in schools once reopened.

Subject to the progress of the epidemic schools are scheduled to reopen on the 11th of August. 

All childcare providers will be able to reopen subject to public health measures with capacity prioritised to support key worker childcare and early learning and childcare.

A phased return to universities and colleges will be introduced with a blend of on campus and remote learning with distancing measures put in place. 

Shopping, eating and drinking out 

Larger retail stores will reopen with social distancing.

Pubs and restaurants can reopen indoor spaces with social distancing and increased hygiene routines.

Personal retail services including hairdressers can reopen with appropriate distancing and hygiene measures. 

Sport. culture and leisure 

Museums, galleries, cinemas, and libraries can open subject to social distancing and hygiene measures. 

Gyms can open subject to physical distancing and hygiene measures.

There will be a relaxation of restrictions on accommodation providers (including hotels, B&Bs and holiday homes). 

Live events permitted with restricted numbers and physical distancing restrictions.

Community and public services:

There will be a further resumption to justice services and processes. 

 

PHASE FOUR
In addition to phases, one, two and three:

 

Seeing friends and family and gathering

There will be a further relaxation on restrictions on gatherings and the continued importance of hygiene will be emphasised. 

Mass gatherings could resume in line with public health advice. 

All ceremonies could now take place with any necessary precautions

 Health and social care

The full range of health and social care services would be provided with a greater use of technology.

Business, employment and employers and workplaces

Remote and flexible working remains encouraged. 

All types of workplaces would be open in line with public health advice.

Travel

Public transport would be operating a full service and capacity. 

Physical distancing may remain in place, subject to scientific advice.

Education

Schools and child care provision would be operating with any necessary precautions. 

College and university campuses would be fully open with any necessary precautions.

Shopping, eating and drinking out 

All types of outlets would be open in line with public health advice. 

Shop local could still be encouraged.

Sport. culture and leisure 

There would be a further relaxation of restrictions on live events in line with public health advice.

Community and public services:

Public services would be operating fully, in line with public health advice.

There will be changes to service design, including increasing use of digital services where appropriate.

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