The latest figures detailing the number of people diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours in Scotland have been announced by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon in parliament.
The First Minister began by apologising to parliament for her breach of the rules at a funeral last Friday. This was a story broken by Chris Musson writing in The Scottish Sun late last night when a photo of the First Minister at Andrew Slorance’s funeral, speaking to fellow mourners in a pub in Edinburgh was published. Mr Slorance was a senior civil servant in The Scottish Government who died aged 49 on 6 December.
She said: “I was in the wrong, I’m kicking myself, possibly harder than my worst critic would, and I’m sorry. There are no excuses, these rules do apply to me just as they do to everyone else. I will make sure that I do not drop my guard again.” She mentions that the news that France has lifted its ban on accompanied freight is welcome but she asks that perishable goods (such as Scottish seafood) are prioritised.
Ms Sturgeon informed parliament that 56,000 people had received their first dose of the vaccine up to Sunday.
She also said that the R number is probably around 1 – and the First Minister reminds everyone that the new variant could raise the R number by around 0.4. This is part of the reason for the new more severe restrictions to be implemented from Boxing Day morning.
The First Minister finished by saying: “With an enormous dose of humility, Presiding Officer, let me remind everyone including myself about FACTS.” See the visual below.
The figures in Scotland as at 23 December 2020 are as follows:
- 1,190 new cases are reported today
- The number of positive cases is now 115,566
- 47 newly reported deaths have been announced today of people who have tested positive within the last 28 days (43 yesterday)
- 56 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed Covid-19 4 fewer than yesterday
- 1025 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed Covid-19 20 fewer than yesterday
- The number of deaths under this daily measurement is now 4,373 (4,326 yesterday)
As at 20 December 2020, a total of 6,298 deaths have been registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) on Wednesday This figure is calculated on a wider definition of deaths relating to Covid-19 than the daily figure reported by The Scottish Government.
203 of these deaths were registered last week.
You can also see the latest numbers laid out visually on the Travelling Tabby website here. It is updated at 3pm daily.
[su_spoiler class=”my-custom-spoiler” title=”Christmas bubbles what you need to know”]Christmas bubbles: what you need to knowThe safest way to celebrate Christmas this year is with your own household in your own home – and as far as possible, to keep any interaction with other households to a minimum. This is by far the safest way to spend this Christmas and keep your loved ones safe.
Christmas bubbles can be formed on the 25th December to help reduce loneliness and isolation. You can meet with your bubble in a home, outdoors or in a place of worship.
You do not have to form a bubble if you do not want to – the safest way to spend Christmas is to stay in your own household, in your own home and your own local area.
If you do decide to form a bubble, this updated guidance asks you to:
minimise the number of people in a Christmas bubble. 8 people from 3 households (plus children under 12 years of age from the three households) is the legal maximum. One of the households can be an extended household. But our recommendation is that a gathering of no more than 2 households would be better – the smaller the bubble, the better and safer it will be
stay outside as much as possible. We strongly recommend that you should stay outdoors as much as possible and that, if you have to meet indoors, you should minimise the time you spend inside
minimise the distance you travel. The law allows you to travel within Scotland – but not to or from outside Scotland – to form a Christmas bubble. You must travel to form a bubble and return home on Christmas day
You should not go to a pub, restaurant, café or entertainment venue, for example a cinema or theatre, with your bubble.
If you don’t form a bubble you must follow the rules in the local authority area you live in.
Hogmanay and New Year: Christmas bubbles apply on Christmas day only. They will not apply at Hogmanay and New Year. All of mainland Scotland will be in Level 4 over Hogmanay and New Year with Orkney, Shetland, Na h-Eileanan Siar and the more remote islands in Argyll and Bute and Highland in Level 3. You should follow the rules on meeting up and travelling for your level. For further information on schools and childcare see the below section: Caring for others and childcare.
[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler class=”my-custom-spoiler” title=”What bubbles can and cannot do”]On 25 December, if you wish to, you can form a Christmas bubble with up to two other households (one of which can be an extended household), up to a maximum of 8 people. Children under 12 do not count towards this number, if from the 3 households. While 3 households is the legal maximum, our recommendation is that 2 is better.
You can travel only within Scotland to meet people in your bubble. 1 of the bubble members must live in the local authority area you are gathering in and you should follow local travel rules once you arrive.
You can meet your bubble in a home, an outdoor place or a place of worship. We strongly recommend that you should avoid meeting your bubble within a home if possible and that you should take the following steps to protect your loved ones:
try to limit contact with others before and after forming a bubble
stay 2 metres apart from people not in your own household – children under 12 do not need to do this (and can continue to meet other children under 12 outdoors who are not in their bubble)
don’t meet other people who are not in the bubble socially indoors or outside
follow the FACTS guidance, by regularly washing hands and keeping surfaces clean
avoid sharing crockery or cutlery
Households who have formed a Christmas bubble must not:
be in more than one bubble;
stay overnight;
change the members of the bubble once formed.
[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler class=”my-custom-spoiler” title=”Staying safe at Christmas”]The safest way to spend Christmas and the festive period is to stay in your own household, in your own home and your own local area. But we recognise that isolation and loneliness can hit people hard over the Christmas period. To help to reduce this, we are temporarily changing some rules on meeting other people.
Just because we are allowing people to meet up in a limited way does not mean that you have to do so. It is a personal choice.
Everyone should think carefully about the risks involved in increasing the number of people you have contact with, particularly if you or your loved ones are at a higher risk from coronavirus. The virus won’t take Christmas off. If we provide it with opportunities to spread from household to household, it is likely to take them.
If you choose to spend Christmas with family and friends, this guidance aims to help you stay as safe as possible.
If you have not formed a bubble you should continue to follow the travel, socialising and hospitality rules for the council area you live in.
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Meeting others indoors
You should not meet anyone who is not in your household indoors in your home or in their home. This applies to all age groups 12 and over. You can meet another household indoors in a public place such as a café or restaurant. The maximum number of people who can meet indoors in a public (not a home) place are 6 which can be from up to 2 separate households.
Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards the total number of people counted in a gathering.
Where an individual household includes more than 6 people, they can nevertheless meet as a single household even if the total number of people exceeds 6.
When you meet people from another household indoors you should:
minimise the number of meetings you have with people from other households each day
stay at least 2 metres apart from anyone who is not part of your household, unless in a public venue that is operating 1 metre distancing with additional measures being in place to avoid transmission.
maintain hand and cough hygiene
avoid touching hard surfaces with your hands
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 its 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 70 and over, people who are pregnant and people with an underlying medical condition) should strictly follow the physical distancing guidance.
Meeting others outdoors
You can meet people from other households outdoors in a private garden or in a public place such as a park or an outdoor area of a pub. The maximum number of people who can meet outdoors is 6 which can be from up to 2 separate households.
Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards the total number of people counted in a gathering. Children under 12 do not need to maintain physical distance from others. This is to allow children under 12 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. Physical distancing is required.
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
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
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 its 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 70 and over, people who are pregnant and people with an underlying medical condition) should strictly follow the physical distancing guidance.
Going into someone else’s home
If you are meeting people from another household in their garden and the gathering exceeds 6 people, 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 the following circumstances:
People who live alone
If you are an adult and you live alone, or if all 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’. 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.
Couples who do not live together
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’.
However, 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 must 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 for at least a 14-day period.
All the adults living in both households should agree to form the extended household. We also encourage parents or guardians to involve their children in discussions. Forming an extended household is an important decision that should be properly discussed and agreed beforehand. Physical distancing between members of an extended household is not required
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.
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.
You can continue to interact with members of your extended household even if they live in a different area with a different Level of protective measures.
If someone in the extended household develops COVID-19 symptoms, to avoid spreading the virus all members of the extended household must isolate immediately if they met the symptomatic person at any time between 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. Similarly, 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 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.
Shared parenting
Where parents do not live in the same household, children can move between their parents’ homes in all levels, this includes both supervised and unsupervised visitation.
The maximum number of people you can meet indoors and outdoors in a restaurant, café, pub or bar is 6 which can be from up to 2 separate households.
Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards the total number of people meeting outdoors only.
Where an individual household includes more than 6 people they can continue to meet as a household in hospitality premises, although the venue may impose a smaller group limit.
Table service and the wearing of face-coverings (unless exempt) when not seated by all customers is mandatory in all hospitality venues. When meeting people from more than one other household, you should think beforehand about what size of table you will need to keep physically distanced between members of your group. The venue you are visiting should be able to advise you of booking options.
You will be asked by to provide your contact details for Test and Protect purposes This information is retained for 21 days with a view to sharing with Test and Protect Teams, if required.
Hospitality venues are required to put in place additional measures to minimise transmission of COVID-19. For example hand sanitiser stations and adequate ventilation. There will also be signs to inform customers whether the venue is in a 2 metres or 1 metre social distancing area.
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. Physical distancing and good hand hygiene remain the most effective measures in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, distancing requirements need to be maintained, where reasonably practicable, at all times, including when waiting to enter premises and when seated.
You should avoid visiting multiple hospitality premises on the same day. In particular, do not visit more than one pub or bar on the same day, as this increases the risk of transmission.
Takeaways can still operate as normal, provided food and drink is sold for consumption off the premises. Face coverings and physical distancing rules must be followed.
Hotels and other accommodation providers can still serve food to guests staying in their premises up to 22:00. Room service, including alcohol, is allowed as normal.
[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler class=”my-custom-spoiler” title=”Restrictions in Level Four Areas”]You should not meet anyone who is not in your household indoors in your home or in their home. You can meet another household indoors in a public place. The maximum number of people who can meet indoors in a public (not a home) place is 6 which can be from up to 2 separate households.
Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards the total number of people permitted to gather indoors in a public place but do count towards the maximum of 2 households permitted to meet. For example a children’s party with 10 children from more than 2 separate households would not be allowable, but 6 adults and 4 children from 2 households could meet.
Children under 12 do not need to maintain physical distance from others indoors.
Where an individual household includes more than 6 people, they can nevertheless meet as a single household even if the total number of people exceeds 6.
You can go into another household to provide care and support for a vulnerable person. This can include providing emotional support for someone whose wellbeing is at risk, including for those who are isolated because of disability or a caring situation. Read Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for unpaid carers
When you meet people from another household indoors you should:
minimise the number of meetings you have with people from other households each day
stay at least 2 metres apart from anyone who is not part of your household, unless in a public venue that is operating 1 metre distancing with additional measures being in place to avoid transmission
maintain hand and cough hygiene
avoid touching hard surfaces with your hands
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 its 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 70 and over, people who are pregnant and people with an underlying medical condition) should strictly follow the physical distancing guidance.
MEETING UP OUTDOORS
You can meet people from other households outdoors in a private garden or in a public place such as a park. The maximum number of people who can meet outdoors is 6 which can be from up to 2 separate households.
Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards the total number of people counted in a gathering. Children under 12 do not need to maintain physical distance from others. This is to allow children under 12 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. Physical distancing is required.
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
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
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 its own food separately
Those at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus (including those who had been shielding, people 70 and over, people who are pregnant and people with an underlying medical condition) should strictly follow the physical distancing guidance.
HOSPITALITY
Restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars will be closed. Sectors guidance is at: sector guidance for tourism and hospitality
Takeaways can still operate as normal, provided food and drink is sold for consumption off premises. Face coverings and physical distancing rules must be followed.
Hotels and other accommodation providers can still serve food to qualifying guests i.e. key or exempt workers, staying in their premises up to 22:00. Room service, including alcohol, is allowed as normal.
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
