LATEST: PHASE 3

Issued 24/09/20

We are currently in Phase 3

Meeting others socially indoors at home

You should not meet anyone from outside your household socially indoors in your home or their home. This applies to all age groups.

If you have formed an extended household, you can continue to meet at home with all members of your extended household.

There are some limited exceptions to this rule. Other types of gathering, e.g. for organised activity, work, or childcare, are subject to different rules. Read an explanation of these. Informal childcare in the home can continue. So, for example, grandparents can continue to look after children

Children who spend time living with each parent can continue to do so.

Tradespeople can still visit homes to undertake work. Other activities which are not social gatherings, such as visits to other households for the purpose of providing care, can also still continue.

Where an individual household includes more than 6 people, they can continue to meet as a household even if the total number of people exceeds 6.

See tourism guidance for information using holiday accommodation in Scotland.

Meeting others socially indoors in public places such as cafés, bars or restaurants

You may meet people socially from 1 other household at a time indoors up to a maximum of 6 people, in a public place such as bar, café or restaurant. You should stay at least 2 metres apart from people from other households at all times, unless the venue is operating 1 metre distancing due to additional measures being in place to avoid transmission.

No more than 6 people in total (from a maximum of 2 households) may meet at any time in such settings, except as explained below.

Children under 12 from the 2 households do not count towards the total number of people at the gathering.

Where an individual household includes more than 6 people, they can continue to meet as a household even if the total number of people exceeds 6.

See the guidance on meeting others i n a pub, restaurant, café or other indoor hospitality venue.

You should minimise the number of meetings you have with people from other households each day.

Meeting others socially outdoors

You may meet people socially outdoors from 1 other household at a time, up to a maximum of 6 people. You should stay at least 2 metres apart from people from other households at all times.

This advice applies, for example, if meeting others in a private garden, in a park, or in an outdoor area of a pub. See the guidance on meeting others i n a pub, restaurant, café or other indoor hospitality venue.

Children under 12 are exempt from these restrictions. They are not counted towards the household limit or maximum number of people. Children under 12 do not need to maintain physical distance from others in public places, such as parks, or in private gardens so children under 12 can continue to play with their friends outside.

Young people aged between 12 and 17 can meet up in groups of up to 6 at a time outdoors and are not subject to the 2 household limit.

Where an individual household includes more than 6 people, they can continue to meet outside as a household even if the total number of people exceeds 6.

You should minimise the number of meetings you have with people from other households each day. You should:

stay at least 2 metres away from anyone who is not part of your household
maintain hand and cough hygiene
avoid touching hard surfaces with your hands
follow advice on the NHS Inform website about physical distancing and hygiene
wash your hands when you arrive, when you leave, when you get home and especially before eating or after touching surfaces
not share food or utensils – if eating, each household should bring, prepare and eat their own food separately
if possible, keep rooms well ventilated – consider opening windows or a door

Those at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus (including those who had been shielding, people over 70, people who are pregnant and people with an underlying medical condition) should strictly follow the physical distancing guidance.

People in the groups at highest risk from the virus were advised in March to “shield” themselves by minimising all interaction between them and others. In the light of the reduced prevalence of the virus that recommendation has been paused from 1 August. We will continue to monitor the evidence, and if the risks increase – whether nationally or locally – we will take the steps necessary in order to keep people as safe as possible. In particular we will contact people who were formerly shielding and we will give them clear advice on what to do if we are asking them to do anything different. We will continue to update our shielding guidance.

Going into someone else’s home

If you are meeting another household in their garden, you should only go into their house to:

access the garden – do so quickly and without touching anything
use the toilet – avoid touching surfaces with your hands as much as possible, wipe any surfaces that you do touch with antibacterial wipes, wash your hands thoroughly, dry your hands with a freshly laundered towel or a paper towel which you should dispose of in a closed bin.

If members of another household are going to visit you and might need to use your toilet, you should ensure appropriate cleaning materials are available. You should also provide either a hand towel for each visiting household or paper towels and a safe disposal option.

Extended households

People who live in different places can form an “extended household” in some circumstances.

People who live alone

If you are an adult and you live alone, or if all the others in your household are under 18, you, any children who live with you, and the members of one other household (of any size) can agree to form an 'extended household'.

Everyone in the extended household will be able to act, and will be treated, as if they live in one household - meaning they can spend time together inside each other’s homes and do not need to stay at least 2 metres apart.

This will allow people who live alone (or those living only with children under the age of 18) to be considered part of another household in order to reduce loneliness, isolation and to provide mutual social support.

However, we know that if one member of a household gets coronavirus, there is a strong likelihood that other members of that household will also catch it. For this reason, there are some important rules which extended households should follow to remain as safe as possible:

one of the households should be a person who lives alone (or who lives only with children under 18 years old)
a household should not form an extended household with more than one other household
households can end the arrangement at any time, but should not then form an extended household with a new household
this means that all the adults living in both households should agree to form the extended household. We would also encourage parents or guardians to discuss this with any children in their household. This is an important decision that should be properly discussed and agreed beforehand

If someone in the extended household develops COVID-19 symptoms, all members of the extended household must isolate immediately if they met the symptomatic person 2 days before and up to 10 days after their symptoms started.

If the symptomatic person tests positive, all members of their direct household must isolate for 14 days from the start of symptoms. And other members of the extended household must isolate for 14 days from when the most recent contact took place. Isolate means staying in your own home for the full 14 days.

Those who have been advised to shield and those at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus (including people over 70, people who are pregnant and people with an underlying medical condition) may take part in an extended household arrangement, but should strictly follow the handwashing, surface cleaning and respiratory hygiene guidance on the NHS Inform website.

Once two households have agreed to form an extended household they may meet outdoors or indoors, visit and stay at each other’s homes, and do everything that people in other households can do, such as watch TV, share a meal and look after each other’s children.

Physical distancing between members of an extended household is not required, but you should continue to follow advice on the NHS Inform website about handwashing, surface cleaning and respiratory hygiene. For example you should wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Members of an extended household are considered to be one household for the legal requirements on meeting other households and going outside, and for the guidance in this document about seeing friends and family and about exercise and leisure activity.

Couples who do not live together

If two adults are in a relationship and they do not live together they, and any children they each live with, can agree to form an 'extended household'.

Everyone in the extended household will be able to act, and will be treated, as if they live in one household - meaning they can spend time together inside each other’s homes and not need to stay at least 2 metres apart.

However, we know that if one member of a household gets coronavirus, there is a strong likelihood that other members of that household will also catch it. For this reason, there are some important rules that extended households should follow to remain as safe as possible:

a household should not form an extended household with more than one other household
households can end the arrangement at any time, but should not then form an extended household with a new household

We would also encourage parents or guardians to discuss extended household arrangements with any children in their household. This is an important decision that should be properly discussed and agreed beforehand

Shielding has been paused from 1 Aug. We will continue to monitor the evidence for this, and if things take a significant turn for the worse – whether nationally or locally – we will take the steps we need to in order to keep you as safe as possible. In particular we will contact you and we will give you clear advice on what to do if we are asking you to do anything different. We will continue to update our shielding guidance.

Shared parenting

Where parents do not live in the same household, children can be moved between their parents’ homes.

Shared parenting during coronavirus on ParentClub
Guidance on compliance with family court orders during coronavirus on Scottish Courts and Tribunals

Gatherings and occasions

Gatherings inside or outside for social interactions and which include more than one household are still limited except for the following exceptions:

where a gathering is outdoors and is of people from up to two households. If someone from one of those households requires a carer, from another household, to assist them for their health and wellbeing, that carer is also permitted to attend.
where a gathering is in an indoor public place and is of people from up to two households. If someone from one of those households requires a carer, from another household, to assist them for their health and wellbeing, that carer is also permitted to attend.
where the gathering is for childcare, education or training
for a wedding ceremony or civil partnership registration, which can take place outdoors and indoors, such as in a registration office or hospitality venue. Our advice remains that no more than 20 people (including the couple, the witnesses and guests) should attend. From 14 September this limit will also be extended to receptions taking place in a regulated environment, such as a hospitality venue (including a hotel) provided the venue’s capacity allows for appropriate physical distancing.
where the gathering is to attend a funeral. We are advising that numbers should be limited to 20, and physical distancing between households must be in place. Depending on a venue’s capacity, it may be that the total number of people able to attend a funeral will be less than 20 people. See: funeral services guidance. From 14 September this limit will also be extended to wakes taking place in a regulated environment, such as a hospitality venue (including a hotel) provided the venue’s capacity allows for appropriate physical distancing.
to attend a place of worship, though numbers should be limited to ensure physical distancing of 2 metres can be adhered to at all times where the gathering is for work purposes, or for the provision of voluntary or charitable services - but individuals should try to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace, and practice physical distancing, hand hygiene and cough etiquette
where the gathering is to facilitate a house move
to take part in organised activities, indoor or outdoor, for those aged under 18
to take part in outdoor organised activities for those aged 18 and over
to take part in organised exercise

Other activities where people gather with others for different reasons- e.g. to seek medical attention, to access public services, or to escape illness or harm, are not restricted by these regulations. Tradespeople can still visit homes to undertake work. Other activities which are not social gatherings, such as visits to other households for the purpose of providing care, can also still continue.

Where an individual household includes more than 6 people, they can continue to meet as a household even if the total number of people exceeds 6

Travelling around Scotland

Guidance on how and when to travel within Scotland including by various transport modes is available on the Transport Scotland website. Car sharing should only happen where there is no alternative, and you should follow the appropriate guidance.

From 24 August, driving lessons can resume. Specific guidance can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): vehicle lessons.

Guide to re-opening and scaling up over the remainder of Phase 3

Confirmed date: Monday 24 August

Organised outdoor contact sports – all ages – following the guidance of relevant sports bodies.

Certain outdoor live events (involving open space or organised seating) with physical distancing and restricted numbers – subject to guidance.

Driving lessons can resume – following guidance

Child contact centres – following guidance.

Face-to-face advice services can resume – following guidance.

Bingo halls (with physical distancing and following guidance).

Amusement arcades and casinos following guidance (incl. enhanced hygiene).

Snooker/pool halls, indoor bowling – following guidance (incl. enhanced hygiene).

Funfairs – static and travelling – following guidance.

Confirmed date: Monday 31 August

Gyms (indoor) – following guidance.

Swimming pools following guidance.

Indoor sports courts – including skating and dance studios – subject to relevant guidance:

Children (under 12): All activity
Adults and Young People (12 plus): Non-contact only.

Indoor activities for children and young people (unregulated) – following guidance which will vary by activity.