‘Stay at home’ rule kicks in for people in level four areas from midnight tonight
MAINLAND Scotland will be put into lockdown for the whole of January from midnight tonight (4th January).
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said from midnight tonight for the duration of January there will be a legal requirement for people living in level four areas (currently all of mainland Scotland) to “stay at home except for essential purposes”.
The islands currently in level three will “remain there for now”, she said, “although we will continue to monitor them very carefully”.
The rule on outdoor gatherings will also change from tomorrow, with a maximum of two people from two households able to meet outdoors.
Sturgeon said the additional restrictions will be in place for the whole of January and will be kept “closely under review”.
“However, I cannot at this stage rule out keeping them in place longer, nor making further changes,” she said.
“Nothing about this is easy.
“Grants are of course available for businesses required to close as a result of restrictions. That support is in addition to support through the UK-wide furlough scheme.
“The Scottish Government’s financial support for businesses during the pandemic currently totals more than £2.3 billion. However, we will continue to assess what more the Scottish Government can do – either in closure grants or other forms of support – to help businesses and those who work for them.”
