Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed there will be no changes to the current COVID-19 protection levels in place across Scotland until Monday 19th July.
(Image caption: a blue banner reading “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Responses, Guidance and Resources” in white text; click the banner for the main COVID-19 page.)
Weddings and Funerals
However, from Monday 28th June, changes to rules for weddings and funerals will take effect:
- weddings and civil partnerships:
- a person accompanying one of the wedding couple down the aisle will no longer need to wear a face covering at that point in the ceremony
- additionally, from Friday 25th June, live focused entertainment (when guests aren’t chatting but watching and listening to the performer) can take place at receptions – however, guests must remain seated
- maximum numbers will also no longer include anyone who is working
- funerals:
- people from more than one household can help carry a coffin, and take a cord when lowering it
- further information on funerals during COVID-19 is available on the mygov.scot website
Moving to Level 0
Scottish Government has also updated Scotland’s Strategic Framework, which sets out how and why their COVID-19 response strategy will change in light of new conditions, and what a move beyond Level 0 will look like.
The entirety of Scotland is due to move to Level 0 on Monday 19th July, if all necessary vaccination and harm reduction measures are met. Physical distancing outdoors will also be removed and physical distancing for indoor public places will reduce to one metre, if the data allows.
It is expected that from Monday 9th August, all major COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted, if the necessary conditions on vaccination and harm reduction continue.
Further information is available in the Scottish Government timetable.
Updates to the Scottish Coronavirus Acts
In addition, Scottish Parliament has passed the Coronavirus Bill, where measures which are no longer necessary to support the ongoing public health response will be removed from the Scottish Coronavirus Acts, while other measures have been extended beyond their original expiry date until March 2022.
Please note, the legislation does not introduce any new measures. It does not cover travel regulations (which are a devolved public health measure), or lockdown measures, which are implemented by Scottish Ministers, within the UK Coronavirus Act 2020.
Further Information
For further information on COVID-19 protection levels and restrictions in Scotland, please visit the Scottish Government’s main COVID-19 page.
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