West Dunbartonshire will move to level zero from next week meaning more freedoms on social meet-ups and opportunities for business to start trading more normally again.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement this afternoon as the Scottish Parliament was recalled from its summer recess for a virtual session.
It follows the move by Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday (Monday) in removing all legal restrictions in place due to the pandemic in England.
But Ms Sturgeon stressed the Scottish Government would not go as far as this at this point confirming that a cautious approach would continue to be taken north of the border.
She said: “This is a time for continued caution and for government to take the difficult decisions necessary to help safeguard the health and wellbeing of the country.”
The First Minister reported that case numbers had not only levelled off but had fallen over the last week.
She set out the detail of the move to a “modified” level zero previously set out.
This includes hospitality being able to open until midnight and up to 200 people being able to gather for life events including weddings and funerals.
Increased numbers of people will now also be able to meet both indoors and outdoors, including in public spaces when the changes will come into force from Monday.
Ms Sturgeon confirmed that plans were still on the cards for Scotland to move “beyond level zero” from August 9 with most restrictions likely to be lifted then.
However she said that the likes of mask-wearing would be required for some time to come.
The First Minister added: “We will assess the data before coming to a final decision nearer the time.”
West Dunbartonshire has been subject to level one restrictions since the start of June when more people were able to socialise together both inside and out and businesses such as softplays were able to reopen for the first time since March 2020.
Hospitality was also able to extend trading hours and sell alcohol inside again.
The First Minister however remained tight-lipped over schools and how isolation would work once they return from the summer break next month saying that assessment was currently being considered by the education advisory group.
She stressed that this would also be subject to information from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) regarding the vaccination of over 12s.
The Lennox Herald broke the news during the last week of term that education bosses had made the decision to shut Dumbarton Academy due to rising cases of the virus.
This meant students learning from home for their last three days of term.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie expressed concern over the impact on education and called for a clear strategy from the Scottish Government.
She said: “Scotland is now four weeks from the start of the new school term and none of the strategic decisions necessary have been communicated to education authorities, headteachers and parents. Clear and timely communication is vital if we are to avoid the chaos that has marked the Scottish Government’s handling of education throughout the pandemic.”
Scottish Labour are supporting actions which include:
• School staff being prioritised in any booster vaccine programme
• Increasing testing in schools to monitor the prevalence of the virus
• A classroom ventilation inspection programme and active ventilation in all classrooms that require it
The Dumbarton politician added: “We must always be guided by the science, and these additional measures are based on lessons learned during the pandemic so far.
“From testing, to vaccines and ventilation, this is a robust plan of action. Not only is it necessary to first and foremost keep pupils and staff safe, but it will also help reduce the disruption to schooling which has been significant since the outbreak of Covid-19.”
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