Hogmanay plans are once again up in the air amid concerns about the Omicron Covid variant.
Nicola Sturgeon today announced a series of restrictions that are due to come into place from Boxing Day.
The restrictions will have an impact on visits to pubs and restaurants, while large crowds at football stadiums and large events are once again off the cards.
Edinburgh’s annual Hogmanay celebrations have also been cancelled due to the restrictions set to come into place later this week.
The First Minister said that the new measures are ‘necessary’ to slow the spread of the virus over the festive period.
“Sticking to all of this is really hard, but there’s not doubt whatsoever, it will help keep up safer”, the Sturgeon said during an address earlier today.
Here is how Covid measures and guidance may affect your Hogmanay celebrations this year
Pubs, restaurants and nightclubs
Scots pubs will once again return to table service only from December 27 under the new rules.
A one-metre social distance rule between different groups will also be in force from this date also.
The Scottish Government has advised that groups should contain no more than three households at the one time.
Nightclubs will also be capped at 100 people from Boxing Day onwards.
Unlike previous lockdowns, there has so far been no announcement on any curfews.
House parties
Nicola Sturgeon did not announce a legal ban on household gatherings during her address at Holyrood earlier today.
However, the First Minister urged Scots to minimise Hogmanay socialising ‘as much as they can’ in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.
Large events
The numbers allowed to attend large Hogmanay events will be reduced from Boxing Day onwards.
Indoor standing events will be limited to 100 and indoor seated events will be limited to 200. Outdoor events will have attendance capped at 500.
One-metre social distancing rules will also be enforced at venues.
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