Scottish Government phased exits from lockdown

Phase 1.
Phase 2.
Phase 3.
Phase 4.

Phase 1 now complete as of 18th June 2020 and phase 3 is now live.

This page has information taken from the Scottish Government website & highlights the key points of the phased exit plan for your reference.

SOURCE: gov.scot

Conditionality and criteria for moving between phases

We (The Scottish Government) will use clear criteria to move between phases as we ease the restrictions that have been put in place. Every three weeks, we will review and report on whether and to what extent we can move from one phase to another. It may be that not everything currently listed in a single phase will happen at the same time. It might be possible to lift some measures more quickly while some may take longer than we envisage now. A single phase may also span more than one review period.

Phase 1 (18th May – 18 June 2020)

In Phase 1, the virus is not be fully contained. There is a continued risk of overwhelming NHS capacity without significant restrictions remaining in place. To progress to Phase 1, R must have been below 1 for at least 2 weeks and the number of infectious cases starting to decline. There should also be a sustained reduction in new infections, hospital admissions, ICU admissions, deaths (WHO Criterion 1). Test and Protect capacity will be ramped up, with staff being recruited and digital systems being designed.

During Phase 1 a number of changes to the rules would be made – potentially over more than one review cycle (after 28 May, the next review cycle concludes on 18 June). Some of these changes would be to guidance and some to regulations. In addition, a number of public services that had either been paused or scaled back because of the crisis would now be resumed or expanded. The rules set out in the previous (Lockdown) phase apply except as set out below.

Seeing family and friends: People can use public outdoor spaces for recreational purposes, for example to sit in a public space. One household can meet up with another household outdoors, in small numbers (up to 8 people), including in gardens, but with physical distancing required. Please do not go into other peoples houses yet.

Getting around: Consistent with the reopening of workplaces set out in this phase, where home working is not possible businesses and organisations are encouraged to manage travel demand through staggered start times and flexible working patterns.

You will also be permitted to travel short distances (up to 5 miles) for outdoor leisure and exercise but advice to stay within a short distance of your local community and travel by walk, wheel and cycle where possible.

International border health measures are set to be introduced.

Schools, childcare and other educational settings: Staff can return to schools and for an increased number of children to access critical childcare provision including the re-opening of child minding services and fully outdoor nursery provision. We are planning to make support available to pupils at key transition points, e.g. those due to start P1 or S1 where possible.

Working or running a business: In this phase remote working will remain the default position for those who can.

For those workplaces that are reopening, employers should encourage staggered start times and flexible working.

Outdoor workplaces can resume with physical distancing measures in place.

Construction sector to implement the first two phases in its restart plan with a decision to move to ‘phase 2’ of the construction sector’s plan only after consulting with government to ensure it is safe to do so and in line with public health advice.

Preparing for the safe reopening of the housing market.

Workplaces resuming in the following phases can undertake preparatory work on physical distancing and hygiene measures in this phase.

Shopping, eating and drinking out: Drive through food outlets as well as the re-opening of garden centres and plant nurseries with physical distancing. Associated cafes (e.g. in garden centres) should not reopen at this stage except for take away.

Sport, culture and leisure activities: Unrestricted outdoors exercise is allowed whilst adhering to distancing measures and non-contact outdoor activities in the local area – such as golf, hiking, canoeing, outdoor swimming, angling – consistent with the wider rules and guidance applicable to any activity in this phase.

Community and public services We are planning the gradual resumption of key support services in the community. We are expecting to restart face-to-face Children’s Hearings and for there to be greater direct contact for social work and support services with at risk groups and families, and for there to be access to respite/day care to support unpaid carers and for families with a disabled family member. All of these would involve appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures.

Opening of Household Waste Centres.

Court and tribunal buildings open, with limited business and public access.

Gatherings and occasions: In this phase we are expecting no public gatherings except for meetings of two households and then only outdoors and with physical distancing.

Health and Social Care: In this phase we expect to begin the safe restart of NHS services, covering primary, and community services including mental health.

We are also planning on retaining COVID-free GP services and planning a further scale up of digital consultations.

We expect to roll out the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service in community pharmacies and increased care offered at emergency dental hubs as practices prepare to open. We will also restart, where possible, urgent electives previously paused. And there will be a resumption of IVF treatment following the approval of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

There will be an increase provision of emergency eye care in the community.

We will consider the introduction of designated visitors to care homes.

The Test and Protect system will be available across the country.

Phase 2 

The  re-opening of outdoor hospitality spaces (e.g. beer gardens with on-street seating) has been pushed back to the 6 of July 2020.

Seeing Friends and Family
People who are shielding are able to leave their home for exercise (from 18th June) and to meet with 1 other household outdoors (max 8 people in total) with physical distancing. People who are shielding can take part in non-contact outdoor activities such as golf, hiking, fishing etc. People who are not shielding can now meet with more households outside. Limit increased from meeting 1 household to meeting 2 households; 8 person overall limit and need for physical distancing remains. People who are not shielding can also use toilets indoors while visiting the outdoors of another household. (Hygiene measures are essential.) Certain household types can now meet others indoors in an ‘extended household’.

Getting Around
Consistent with the re-opening of workplaces set out in this phase, where home working is not possible businesses and organisations are encouraged to manage travel demand through staggered start times and flexible working patterns. People should continue to stay in their local area as much as possible and should not travel more than broadly five miles for leisure or recreation. Public transport services will increase over the phase, including increased ferry services and capacity. (All phase changes apply to islands.) Public transport capacity will remain constrained due to physical distancing requirements – and active travel remains the preferred mode of travel. International border health measures in place.

Schools, childcare & other educational settings
On campus university lab research restarted subject to physical distancing. College and university staff can return to make essential preparation.

Working or running a business
Remote working remains the default position for those who can. Indoor (non-office) workplaces resume once relevant guidance is implemented.
• Includes: factories, warehouses, labs and research facilities.
• Excludes: indoor workplaces due to open in Phase 3 (e.g. nonessential offices and call-centres).
Construction sector can implement the remaining phases of the sectoral plan.
Consistent with Phase 2, accommodation can be provided for those required to stay away from home for work purposes.
Relaxation on restrictions on housing moves.

Shopping, eating and drinking out
Street-access retail can re-open once guidance is implemented. Interiors of shopping centres / malls remain closed for nonessential shops until Phase 3.
Outdoor markets can re-open once guidance is implemented.
We will review the scientific evidence on how pubs and restaurants can open outdoor spaces safely with a review point on 2 July.

Sport, culture and leisure activities
Outdoor sports courts can re-open.
Playgrounds can re-open.
Professional sport can resume – with public health restrictions remaining in-place.
Zoos and garden attractions can open for local access only (broadly within five miles) in this phase.

Community and public services
Public services will continue to resume and scale-up during Phase 2, continuing those set out in Phase 1.
In addition to the services set out elsewhere in this phase, resuming activity includes services such as visiting support to Housing First Tenants and the resumption of area-based energy efficiency schemes.

Gatherings and occasions
Registration offices open for high priority tasks.
Places of worship can re-open for individual prayer or contemplation.
Marriages & civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees – outdoors only.

Health and social care
Increasing health care provision for pent-up demand, urgent referrals and triage of routine services.
Reintroducing some chronic disease management.
Continue phased resumption of any suspended or postponed.
GP services supported by digital consultation.
Continued GP support for shielded patients, including home visits where clinically necessary.
Dental practices can re-open to see patients with urgent care needs.
Priority referrals to secondary care begin.
Continue to plan with COSLA and Scottish Care and other partners to support and, where needed, review of social care and care home services.
Phased resumption of some screening services.
Community optometry practices re-open for face-to-face emergency and essential eye care.
Consideration to be given to a phased resumption of visiting care homes starting with outdoor visiting where it is clinically safe to do so.

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From 19 June:
• people who are shielding are able to leave their home for exercise and to meet with 1 other household outdoors (max 8 people in total) with physical distancing from 18 June. They are also able to take part in non-contact outdoor activities such as golf, hiking, fishing
• people who are not shielding can now meet with more households outside. Limit increased from meeting 1 household to meeting 2 households; 8 person overall limit and need for physical distancing remains
• they can also use toilets indoors while visiting the outdoors of another household (Hygiene measures are essential)
• certain household types can now meet others indoors in an ‘extended household’
• People should continue to stay in their local area as much as possible and should not travel more than broadly five miles for leisure or recreation.

From 22 June:
• face coverings are mandatory on public transport
• places of worship can re-open for individual prayer and contemplation
• professional sport can resume – with public health restrictions remaining in place
• dental practices can re-open to see patients with urgent care needs
• construction sector can implement remaining phases of sectoral plan
• college and university staff can return to make essential preparations for restart in Phase 3
• consistent with Phase 2, accommodation allowed for those required to stay away from home for work purposes.

From 29 June

• indoor (non-office) workplaces resume once relevant guidance is implemented
– Includes: factories, warehouses, labs and research facilities
– Excludes: indoor workplaces due to open in Phase 3 (e.g. non-essential offices and call centres)
• street-access retail can re-open once guidance is implemented. Interiors of shopping malls/centres remain closed for non-essential shops until Phase 3
• outdoor markets can re-open once guidance implemented
• relaxation on restrictions on housing moves
• outdoor sports courts can re-open
• playgrounds can re-open
• registration offices open for high priority tasks
• marriages and civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees – outdoors only
• zoos and garden attractions can open but should remain limited to local access only (broadly within 5 miles) in this phase.

Phase 3 (Now live from 10th July 2020)

*Register your establishment for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme

• Mandatory face coverings in shops and other retail
• Outdoors – a household can meet up to 4 other households at a time – up to 15 people in total
• Indoors – a household can meet up to 2 other households at a time – up to 8 people in total. This includes overnight stays
• A household can meet up to 4 other households per day in total (this is in total – meetings indoors and/or outdoors)
• The limit on the number of other households you can meet per day (indoors or outdoors) doesn’t apply to young people who are younger than 18.
• Children aged 11 or under no longer need to physically distance indoors. Young people aged 12-17 must continue to physically distance
• Extended Households: Non cohabiting partners (and any children under 18 in their households) can form an extended household without physical distancing

With effect from Monday 13 July

• Organised outdoor contact sports, play and physical activity, can resume for children and young people under 18 (subject to guidance)
• All dental practices begin to see registered patients for non-aerosol routine care. Work will begin to return aerosol generating procedures to practice safely
• Non-essential shops inside shopping centres can re-open (following guidance and with physical distancing)
• Face-to-face youth work can resume outdoors (following relevant guidance)

With effect from Wednesday 15 July

• Places of worship can re-open for congregational services, communal prayer and contemplation with physical distancing and limited numbers
• All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance)
• Indoor hospitality (subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice).
• Hairdressers and barbers – with enhanced hygiene measures
• Museums, galleries, monuments, libraries, various other visitor attractions, cinemas (including drive‑ins and venues screening films) – with physical distancing and other measures (e.g. ticketing in advance)
• All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements
• Easing of restrictions on attendance at funerals, marriage ceremonies and civil partnerships registrations, with physical distancing (limited numbers). Associated receptions are subject to restrictions on hospitality and household meetings

With effect from Wednesday 22 July

• Motorcycle instruction and theory/hazard tests can resume. Tractor tests can also resume
• Universities and colleges – phased return to on campus learning as part of a blended model with remote teaching. Public health measures (including physical distancing) in place
• Other personal retail services such as beauticians and tailors can re-open– with enhanced hygiene measures

Not before 31 July

• Non-essential offices and call centres can re-open following implementation of relevant guidance (including on physical distancing). Working from home and working flexibly remain the default
• Live events (outdoors) with physical distancing and restricted numbers. Note: this broad category is under review to determine which types of events are safe to resume slightly earlier
• Live events (indoors) – with physical distancing and restricted numbers
• Bingo halls (with physical distancing)
• Other indoor live-entertainment venues (e.g. theatres, music venues)
• Indoor gyms (with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures)
• Outdoor contact sports (organised for adults and informal for all ages)
• Driving lessons can resume

Scaling up of public services

During Phase 3, a range of public services will continue to safely re-open and expand. These include the resumption of face-to-face youth work from 13 July (with physical distancing and following relevant guidance).

Public transport continues to scale up to full services, as it moves to a 1 metre physical distancing model once appropriate mitigations are in place, during this phase but will have reduced capacity.

From 11 August: Children to be able to return to school full time (conditional upon ongoing scientific and health advice). The blended model of schooling remains a contingency plan.

Phase 4 (subject to change as new information becomes available)

In this, the final phase in our transition through the crisis, the virus remains suppressed to very low levels and is no longer considered a significant threat to public health, but society remains safety conscious. All WHO criteria continue to be met. A vaccine and/or effective treatment may have been developed. Test and Protect continues to be fully operational in all 14 Health Board areas. Scotland is open with precautions and the importance of hygiene and public health are emphasised. It could be many months, or longer, until we reach this phase.

Seeing family and friends: We will expect to see further relaxation on restrictions on gatherings and the continued importance of hygiene and public health will be emphasized.

Getting around: Public transport would be operating a full service. Physical distancing may remain in place, subject to scientific advice.

Schools and childcare settings: Schools and child care provisionwould be operating with any necessary precautions.

College and university campuses would be fully open – including key student services – with any necessary precautions

Working or running a business: Remote and flexible working remains encouraged. All types of workplaces would be open in line with public health advice.

Shopping, eating out and drinking: All types of outlets would be open in line with public health advice. Shop local still encouraged.

Sport, culture and leisure: There would be a further relaxation of restrictions on live events in line with public health advice.

Community and public services: Public services would be operating fully, in line with public health advice, with modifications and changes to service design, including increasing use of digital services where appropriate.

Gatherings and occasions: Mass gatherings could resume in line with public health advice.

All ceremonies could now take place with any necessary precautions.

Health and social care: The full range of health and social care services would be provided with greater use of technology to provide improved services to citizens.