Tougher restrictions come into force to stem spread of Covid

Tougher restrictions have come into force across the majority of Scotland in the battle to stem the spread of coronavirus.

From Saturday, customers are now no longer able to collect takeaway food and drink from inside the premises.

Takeaway alcohol to drink outside is also forbidden.

Under the new restrictions, takeaway operators must now serve only from a hatch or window.

Meanwhile, click and collect services – which have been reduced to only those deemed “essential” – must offer staggered appointments.

The Scottish Government has also closed a loophole in its stay-at-home order that allowed people to do non-essential things after leaving home for an essential purpose.

Statutory guidance urging employers to support workers to remain at home “wherever possible” has also been strengthened.

The tighter restrictions affect all local authority areas in level four of the Scottish Government’s five-tier alert system.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the new rules on Wednesday.

The move comes as the number of death certificates mentioning Covid-19 in Scotland has now broken the 7000 mark.

Claudio Celino, owner of Celino’s Delicatessen in Glasgow, told STV News: “These new restrictions that have been imposed on us has made us think about how we can serve our customers, because we’re stuck in-between the two.

“We’re an essential shop for your bread, for your milk, for your meats and cheeses, but also we do takeaway.

“So what we’ve done here is we’ve created two queues outside the shop.

“One side is for essential shopping of deli items, and the other side of the door we’ve got a queue for anybody who wants to come down and place an order for takeaway. Then they’ll pay it and we’ll bring those items out for them.

“And don’t get me wrong, we’re going to learn as we go along.

“It’s not very nice coming down and standing in the cold, rain and the snow. So I do sympathise with them.

“The majority do adapt and get on with it. You still have those that maybe don’t put their mask on, sanitise. We ask them to do that. For their safety, for our safety and for their family’s safety as well.”

Click and collect

Only retailers selling essentials, such as clothing, baby equipment and books, are able to offer click and collect services. The full list of exemptions is available here.

For those allowed to continue, “staggered appointments” must be put in place to end queuing.

Customers are not allowed to enter inside premises still permitted to offer collection services.

Takeaway food and alcohol

Alcohol consumption outdoors in all level four areas of Scotland is now banned, meaning anyone who buys takeaway alcohol must consume it in their own home and not on the street or in outdoor areas such as parks.

Scots are also barred from entering hospitality businesses for takeaway services, meaning all takeaway sales of food or drinks must take place from outside the premises – from a doorway or a hatch, for example.

The change is an attempt to limit contact between other people or staff.

Work

Working from home should now be the default position for all businesses and services, and only those who cannot do their job from home should be asked to go into the workplace.

People who are shielding should not go into work.

Stay at home

Mainland Scotland and the Isle of Skye have been placed in lockdown for the month of January with a legal requirement to stay at home – a move that mirrors the lockdown put in place in March.

Island areas currently in level three of the Scottish Government’s framework remain in level three.

It is only permissible to leave home for an essential purpose, including caring responsibilities, essential shopping, exercise and being part of an extended household.

The Scottish Government has provided a list of reasonable excuses to leave your home here.