Scotland returns to lockdown

The lockdown measures will come into place across Scotland from midnight on Monday

Published 4th Jan 2021
Last updated 5th Jan 2021

Scotland is heading back into a full lockdown, to try and slow the spread of coronavirus

From midnight until the end of January Scots will be legally required to Stay at Home - except for essential purposes like shopping, exercise, or caring responsibilities.

Schools will also remain closed, with all learning taking place online, until the 1st of February, including all nurseries, primary and secondary schools. This will be reviewed again in 2 weeks.

The First Minister has been outlining her plans to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the Scottish Parliament.

The First Minister told MSPs: “The advice of our clinical advisers is clear that the increased transmissibility of the new variant means that the current Level 4 measures may not be sufficient to bring the R number back below one.

“It is essential that we further limit interaction between different households to stem the spread and bring the situation back under control, while we vaccinate more people.

“In short, we must return for a period to a situation much closer to the lockdown of last March.”

Meanwhile, people who were previously shielding have been told not to go to work.

Ms Sturgeon said: “If you were shielding and you cannot work from home, our clear advice now is that you should not go into work at all.

“The chief medical officer is writing to everyone who falls into this category, and his letter will count as a fit note for those who need it.”

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