Eleven Scottish councils move into tough Tier 4 restrictions

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that 11 council areas will be moving into Tier 4 from today (Friday 19^th November), meaning hospitality businesses will once again only be able to offer takeaway.

The rules will be enforced on the City of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

The closure of restaurants, cafes and bars is imminent in the affected areas, with the only exception being hotels, which can still serve food to guests such as key workers until 10pm and offer alcohol via room service.

Sturgeon explained that the move to Tier 4 was intended to be “short and sharp” to combat rising cases of coronavirus, with restrictions set to ease on 11^th December in time for Christmas.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Edinburgh will remain in Tier 3, with pubs and restaurants forced to close at 6pm and unable to serve alcohol.

 Some 2.3 million residents will be impacted by the latest lockdown, being advised to stay home as much as possible during the latest period lockdown.

Elsewhere in the UK, Northern Ireland is set to face a two-week period of tougher Covid-19 lockdown measures from next Friday 27th November. Non-essential retail will shit and the hospitality will remain closed, despite original plans to reopen on a “graduated basis” on 20th November.

• Closure of all non-essential retail
• Closure of close contact services such as hair and beauty salons and driving instructors; exemptions for those in film and TV production, those involved in health and social care services and elite sport services
• Hospitality will only be permitted to offer takeaway services – food and drink in motorway services, airports and harbour terminals remain open
• Closure of all leisure and entertainment to include soft play areas, gyms, golf courses, tennis courts, fitness studios and swimming pools
• Sporting events only permitted at elite level and to be played without spectators
• Closure of places of worship with exceptions for weddings, civil partnerships and funerals – the maximum number present will remain at 25

Meanwhile in Wales, hospitality businesses have come out of the firebreak lockdown and groups of four people from different households can now meet indoors at pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants. The rules are as follows:

• Two household bubbles can be formed
• 15 people can meet indoors for organised activities
• 30 people can meet outdoors for organised activities
• Schools reopen
• Non-essential businesses can reopen
• No travel to and from England (unless there is a ‘reasonable excuse’)
• No travel restrictions within Wales
• Work from home where possible