Scotland level 2: what are tier 2 restrictions in Scotland - and when will the country move to a level system?
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The first minister has confirmed that all of mainland Scotland will move to tier 3 restrictions on April 26.
Nicola Sturgeon set out Scotland’s route map out of lockdown on 23 February, earmarking dates for when parts of society may reopen.
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Hide AdAddressing the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister confirmed that if all goes according to plan, the country will move back to a levels system from the last week in April.
At this stage, all parts of the country currently in level 4 - which includes the whole of mainland Scotland - will be able to move initially to level three, before making their way through tiers 2, 1 and 0.
Why is Scotland returning to a levels system?
According to Sturgeon, the advantage of the levels system is that it allows the government to open up parts of the country that have lower infection rates first.
She said this will depend on the vaccination programme going as planned.
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Hide AdSturgeon said: “The advantages of the levels system is that it will allow us to let some parts of the country move faster than others, if the data supports that.
“Moving back to the variable levels system at that time will also be contingent on us having vaccinated all JCVI priority groups 1-9 which we hope to have done by mid April.
“That matters not only because those groups will be more protected but also because we believe that vaccinating around half of the population will have a significant effect on reducing transmission across society as a whole.
“And though we don’t yet know exactly how big an effect this will be, we hope it will give us the headroom to carefully ease restrictions.”
What are the level two rules?
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Hide AdUnder level two restrictions no in-home socialising will be permitted, while meetings in public and outdoor settings will be restricted to groups of six from no more than two households.
In level two areas the sale of alcohol is permitted in outdoor areas, and indoor areas so long as it is sold with a main meal.
Takeaways will be permitted for alcohol and food “as per existing arrangements”.
Level two restrictions do not permit non-essential travel into or out of the level two area with exemptions for “work, education, shopping health etc; outdoor exercise; weddings and funerals; and transit through restricted areas”.
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Hide AdActive travel (walk, run, cycle, wheel) is encouraged where possible, while car sharing is advised against along with non-essential use of public transport.
Public services and support services are both permitted to operate, but are encouraged to limit face-to-face interaction.
Close contact services such as hairdressers and barbers will be allowed to operate in level two but may be subject to additional protective measures. Mobile close contact services are not permitted.
Weddings, and civil partnerships and funerals are all subject to 20 person limits.
Indoor exercise apart for adult contact is permitted, while all outdoor exercise is permitted.