Return to lockdown! First Minister tightens coronavirus restrictions as pressure mounts on NHS
Schools closed until February under legal stay-at-home order
Last updated 4th Jan 2021
Scotland is heading back into a full lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.
From midnight tonight (Monday), until the end of January, we'll 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, at least until the 1st of February - that includes all nursery, primary and secondary schools. That will be reviewed again in a fortnight.
The First Minister warns the country's hospitals could become overwhelmed with Covid patients within three or four weeks if no action is taken. Nicola Sturgeon's been outlining her plans in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.
She revealed 289 people, who recently tested positive, have died since her last update before Christmas, while a faster-spreading strain of the virus has seen a surge in the number of new cases being recorded.
MS Sturgeon told MSPs: "NHS services are coping at present, although the pressure on frontline staff is considerable. But already in some areas the position is fragile and is getting more challenging.
"And, if the rate of increase in case numbers that we have seen in the past two weeks were to continue unchecked, there would be a real risk of our NHS being overwhelmed - even with contingency plans in place.
"In fact, our modelling suggests that without further intervention, we could breach inpatient Covid capacity within three or four weeks.
"And a sharply increasing number of cases, in human terms, means many more people becoming ill and dying.
"All of that explains why we have to act quickly and decisively."
WATCH: The First Minister has been outlining her plans to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the Scottish Parliament.
Parliament heard, nationally, the total number of Covid patients in hospital is now close to last April's peak. The situation is particularly fragile in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which is currently at 96 per cent of its Covid (bed) capacity; while three other health boards - Borders, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Lanarkshire - are above 60 per cent of their capacity.
Among the new restrictions announced today, outdoor gatherings will be limited to two people from up to two households, although children aged 11 and under will not be counted.
And there's no limit on outdoor exercise.
From Friday, places of worship will also be forced to close - except for funeral, wedding or civil partnership ceremonies. Up to 20 people will be allowed to attend a funeral, but wakes are banned, and weddings and civil partnership ceremonies will be limited to five people.
The one-metre exemption for workplace canteens will also end - social-distancing of two metres will have to be enforced; more non-essential businesses, such as ski centres and cosmetic clinics, will be asked to close.
No-one will be allowed to travel in or out of Scotland, except for essential purposes, and anyone who can work from home must do so.
The Scottish islands will remain in Level Three of the Scottish Government's coronavirus restrictions - although schools will remain closed to all except vulnerable children and the children of key workers.
Ms Sturgeon said: "Our fundamental advice for everyone is to stay at home - that is the single best way of staying safe.
"We consider that this stay at home message and advice is now so important that from tomorrow it will become law, just as it was in lockdown last year.
"This will mean it will only be permissible to leave home for an essential purpose."
The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to update the country on the position in England at 8pm tonight.