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Scotland - Framework out of the pandemic - 23rd February 2021

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Scotrail314209

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Coronavirus update at 12:00pm today. Possible early easing of some restrictions may occur.

Today's briefing will be held at noon, where the First Minister will also report the latest covid statistics.

She tweeted: "I’ll give a Covid update at 12 noon. I’ll report on progress and confirm we’re firmly on track for substantial re-opening of economy on 26 April. We’ve also been considering whether any earlier changes to support mental health and wellbeing are possible & I’ll update on that too."
 
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Huntergreed

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Also rule of 6 from so many households is scrapped, its just the rule of 6 now (thank goodness!)

Any update on the England/Scotland border reopening (not like I've crossed it 20 times without any hassle whatsoever so far...)
 

RomeoCharlie71

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The updated levels table has been published (click the download button, top right). I'm not sure exactly what the changes are, as the rules are a bit nonsensical anyway, but I do note that there will be no maximum household limits for outdoor gatherings from here on in.

I.e. in level 3, 6 from 6 (6/6) households, level 2 is 8/8, level 1 is 12/12 and level 0 is 15/15. However, the household rules still apply indoors, so 6/2 in level 3, 6/3 in level 2, 8/3 in level 1 and 10/4 in level 0. Children under 12 don't count towards the total either as has been the case since September.

Face coverings will continue to be mandatory on public transport (at least) in level 0.
 

takno

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The updated levels table has been published (click the download button, top right). I'm not sure exactly what the changes are, as the rules are a bit nonsensical anyway, but I do note that there will be no maximum household limits for outdoor gatherings from here on in.

I.e. in level 3, 6 from 6 (6/6) households, level 2 is 8/8, level 1 is 12/12 and level 0 is 15/15. However, the household rules still apply indoors, so 6/2 in level 3, 6/3 in level 2, 8/3 in level 1 and 10/4 in level 0. Children under 12 don't count towards the total either as has been the case since September.

Face coverings will continue to be mandatory on public transport (at least) in level 0.
Hmm, also no nightclubs, and severe restrictions on crowd sizes. I wonder if there's a roadmap to -1, or at least a route to proper reopening that doesn't involve voting out the hapless mare next month.
 

kez19

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The updated levels table has been published (click the download button, top right). I'm not sure exactly what the changes are, as the rules are a bit nonsensical anyway, but I do note that there will be no maximum household limits for outdoor gatherings from here on in.

I.e. in level 3, 6 from 6 (6/6) households, level 2 is 8/8, level 1 is 12/12 and level 0 is 15/15. However, the household rules still apply indoors, so 6/2 in level 3, 6/3 in level 2, 8/3 in level 1 and 10/4 in level 0. Children under 12 don't count towards the total either as has been the case since September.

Face coverings will continue to be mandatory on public transport (at least) in level 0.

Why the need for face coverings at level 0? I thought that was “normal” for level 0? I guess at each level there is some sort of extra restriction in place?
 

MrKyleBuses

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No, Level 0 was never considered normal, also Nicola has said she may look down the line at going beyond Level 0 to something more like actual normal.
Why the need for face coverings at level 0? I thought that was “normal” for level 0? I guess at each level there is some sort of extra restriction in place?
 

kez19

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No, Level 0 was never considered normal, also Nicola has said she may look down the line at going beyond Level 0 to something more like actual normal.

So what the heck is normal to people like her and Boris? So if Level 0 isn't enough then what is? Even though I believe Boris moves goalposts, she is in the act of doing the very same thing!

Be level 1 let alone 0 it should be at least some sort of normal than restrictions, its becoming more of a joke in my eyes.

Yet on their restrictions ad they did highlight level 0 but nothing was ever mentioned either, surprised then why not just add a -1 if level 0 isn't "normal"
 

Journeyman

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So what the heck is normal to people like her and Boris? So if Level 0 isn't enough then what is? Even though I believe Boris moves goalposts, she is in the act of doing the very same thing!

Be level 1 let alone 0 it should be at least some sort of normal than restrictions, its becoming more of a joke in my eyes.

Yet on their restrictions ad they did highlight level 0 but nothing was ever mentioned either, surprised then why not just add a -1 if level 0 isn't "normal"
The thing beyond Level 0 is all restrictions lifted and the levels system no longer in place. We won't be at level 0, there won't be any levels.
 

kez19

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The thing beyond Level 0 is all restrictions lifted and the levels system no longer in place. We won't be at level 0, there won't be any levels.


Its about time things like levels actually go - for me keeping all this going ie levels seems to me there is more to than we are being told?

Level 0 in my eyes should be basically the endgame, get life back to normal and so forth but to go into something like -1 etc is definately taking the biscuit here! So we aren't getting "normal" back then in Scotland we too are going for the "new normal" that Boris seems to envisage? Who knew that these 2 peas were from the same pod?!

So what is the endgame for Scotland and the UK regardless if say we - Scotland are in Level 0 and UK as a whole is Level 1? What exactly happens next? We keep restrictions going for the rest of eternity? Thats not life, we are just basically existing just to satisfy these people?
 
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adrock1976

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What's it called? It's called Cumbernauld
That's because bakeries are defined as essential retailers - not takeaways/fast-food providers/whatever. Although I'm not sure where the likes of Greggs fit into this...


Indeed. I honestly thought it'd be one of the first "rules" to be ditched - long before April!

You could say that all retailers are essential... to the people who own them.

Note I am referring to small independents, not the ones like Phillip Green who do some creative accounting by having ownership of assets based in the Cayman Islands so as to pay HM Treasury the princely sum of £0 and 0 pence.
 

Butts

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Also rule of 6 from so many households is scrapped, its just the rule of 6 now (thank goodness!)

Any update on the England/Scotland border reopening (not like I've crossed it 20 times without any hassle whatsoever so far...)

Any update on May 17th for Foreign Travel ?
 

mcmad

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Any update on May 17th for Foreign Travel ?
not sounding good from what was said. The implication seemed to be open up domestically "quicker/more fully" at the expense of keeping the borders shut.
 

Butts

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Also rule of 6 from so many households is scrapped, its just the rule of 6 now (thank goodness!)

Any update on the England/Scotland border reopening (not like I've crossed it 20 times without any hassle whatsoever so far...)

Has this cross border ban been anything but theoretical since it's inception ?

From my personal experience virtually no enforcement by way of checking the supposed legitimacy of travellers has been conducted.

What was the point in making it law ?

Off to Berwick upon Tweed tomorrow followed by Carlisle, Newcastle and Durham all before April 26th.

Day's out with benefits ( currently unavailable in Scotland) :E
 

liam456

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Has this cross border ban been anything but theoretical since it's inception ?

From my personal experience virtually no enforcement by way of checking the supposed legitimacy of travellers has been conducted.

What was the point in making it law ?

Much like the stay local law (local authority area + 5 miles) and the takeaway though a hatch only change, probably just to be seen to be 'tougher on covid' than England.

The takeaway one I begrudgingly accept, but the stay local law (as opposed to guidance) is a real kick in the teeth. Not only is it unfair if you want to do outdoor recreation if you live in Glasgow City as opposed to Argyll and Bute for example, but I cannot understand how taking a solo or household hike in Stirling for example leads to a higher risk than doing so in Glasgow Green?

Thank goodness it's utterly unenforceable and ending soon!
 
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nlogax

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Has this cross border ban been anything but theoretical since it's inception ?

From my personal experience virtually no enforcement by way of checking the supposed legitimacy of travellers has been conducted.

From our respective experiences it would feel like it, though the more I dig it's clear several hundred fines have been dished out over the last year from both sides of the border.
 

RomeoCharlie71

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From our respective experiences it would feel like it, though the more I dig it's clear several hundred fines have been dished out over the last year from both sides of the border.
I don't think the police are/were out to catch people breaking the LA rule. It was more likely that these people were stopped for something else (e.g. speeding), and the police found out they were from another LA without reasonable excuse thus slapped them with a covid FPN whilst they were at it.
 

takno

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I don't think the police are/were out to catch people breaking the LA rule. It was more likely that these people were stopped for something else (e.g. speeding), and the police found out they were from another LA without reasonable excuse thus slapped them with a covid FPN whilst they were at it.
I know of a few people who've been stopped and fined for crossing the English border. Specifically they were fined because when they got turned back on the main road they tried to go a different route and were stopped again. Enforcement has been patchy, but not non-existent
 

Butts

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I know of a few people who've been stopped and fined for crossing the English border. Specifically they were fined because when they got turned back on the main road they tried to go a different route and were stopped again. Enforcement has been patchy, but not non-existent

Do you know of anyone who has suffered the same fate when travelling by Air or Rail ?
 

route101

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Has this cross border ban been anything but theoretical since it's inception ?

From my personal experience virtually no enforcement by way of checking the supposed legitimacy of travellers has been conducted.

What was the point in making it law ?

Off to Berwick upon Tweed tomorrow followed by Carlisle, Newcastle and Durham all before April 26th.

Day's out with benefits ( currently unavailable in Scotland) :E
Hope the BTP are not at Carlisle! Hopefully from the 26th I will get a day out to England.
[a
 

route101

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Much like the stay local law (local authority area + 5 miles) and the takeaway though a hatch only change, probably just to be seen to be 'tougher on covid' than England.

The takeaway one I begrudgingly accept, but the stay local law (as opposed to guidance) is a real kick in the teeth. Not only is it unfair if you want to do outdoor recreation if you live in Glasgow City as opposed to Argyll and Bute for example, but I cannot understand how taking a solo or household hike in Stirling for example leads to a higher risk than doing so in Glasgow Green?

Thank goodness it's utterly unenforceable and ending soon!
Yes the LA rule is nonsense. I live very near two other local authorities, last few weeks I just continued my walks into them.

Can they enforce Scottish law in England? I'm not convinced they can.
Good point. It could work the other way, police checking on arrival at Edinburgh Waverley or Glasgow Central. Whenever I've seen the police at Glasgow, they are not asking anyone about their journeys.

I don't think the police are/were out to catch people breaking the LA rule. It was more likely that these people were stopped for something else (e.g. speeding), and the police found out they were from another LA without reasonable excuse thus slapped them with a covid FPN whilst they were at it.
Not seen any Police enforce that rule. Some places would be easier than others such as the Tay Road Bridge. I imagine they have bigger fish to fry.

I don't think the police are/were out to catch people breaking the LA rule. It was more likely that these people were stopped for something else (e.g. speeding), and the police found out they were from another LA without reasonable excuse thus slapped them with a covid FPN whilst they were at it.
Not seen any Police enforce that rule. Some places would be easier than others such as the Tay Road Bridge. I imagine they have bigger fish to fry.
 

Scotrail314209

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Just a quick thing,

Scotrail have confirmed on Facebook they are not upping train services until Mid May, regardless of things being eased. So if anyone is planning to stay out late, it’s worth knowing.

Imo, that’s a shambles and will simply push everyone onto the last train. Scotrail have enough bad flack at the minute. I can see custom moving over to the buses, especially with the strikes.
 

route101

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Just a quick thing,

Scotrail have confirmed on Facebook they are not upping train services until Mid May, regardless of things being eased. So if anyone is planning to stay out late, it’s worth knowing.

Imo, that’s a shambles and will simply push everyone onto the last train. Scotrail have enough bad flack at the minute. I can see custom moving over to the buses, especially with the strikes.
That's disappointing, at this time of year towards the summer you tend to stay out later. Least they may increase them come Mid May.
 
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