Mainland Scotland to be put under toughest level four restrictions and islands to go into level three
PUBS and restaurants across Scotland will have to close from Boxing Day after first minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed all of mainland Scotland will be put under level four restrictions from 26th December.
Speaking last night (Saturday 19th December), Sturgeon said level four measures will be applied to all of mainland Scotland for three weeks from one minute after midnight on Boxing Day morning.
Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, and “the other island communities where we have reduced restrictions in recent weeks”, will go into level three, she said, with “strict restrictions on who can travel to and from those islands”. Under level three restrictions, hospitality premises are not allowed to serve alcohol and are required to close at 6pm.
Sturgeon said the tough measures are necessary to try and curb the spread of a new strain of coronavirus.
“To limit, as far as we can, the risk of this strain spreading further than it has within Scotland, we intend to apply level four measures to all of mainland Scotland for a period of three weeks from one minute after midnight on Boxing Day morning,” she said.
“The only exceptions will be Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, and the other island communities where we have reduced restrictions in recent weeks, who will go into level three but with strict restrictions on who can travel to and from those islands.
“To be clear, that means that from Boxing Day morning, non-essential shops will close, as will pubs, cafes and restaurants. Takeaway food will continue to be allowed.”
The measures were announced as Sturgeon confirmed plans to cut back the planned five-day relaxation of rules for the Christmas period to Christmas Day itself, and to “maintain a strict travel ban” between Scotland and the rest of the UK.
