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Scottish Government update plans for easing COVID-19 restrictions

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 24th February 2021
ALLIANCE COVID-19 News graphic

Easing of restrictions may allow some non-essential retail and services to reopen in Scotland by the end of April.

The Scottish Government has published an updated version of its Strategic Framework for emerging from the pandemic (this link will take you away from our website). The core focus of the government strategy is to suppress the virus to the lowest levels possible whilst aiming to return as much normality for as many people as is possible.

Easing of restrictions will be phased in at three week intervals, to allow appropriate monitoring of their impact. For the first stage, more pupils will return to school and outdoor mixing will be possible in slightly greater numbers. At the next stage, final school returns will happen, the general stay at home requirement will be lifted, limited communal worship will be possible, and some reopening of retail will take place.

If these stages and the vaccine rollout proceed well, then by the end of April some return to the levels system is anticipated, though no part of Scotland will be placed lower than Level 3. This will allow a phased reopening for certain non-essential retail and services such as gyms and hairdressers.

Further easing beyond this will be determined at a later date, according to progress in reducing prevalence of COVID-19. In the longer term, the government expects that the focus of suppression measures will shift from restrictions to vaccines, as more of the population receive their vaccinations.

You can find out more on the Scottish Government website (this link will take you away from our website).

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