Covid restrictions will be tightened in Dumfries and Galloway and across Scotland amid fears that the ‘Stay at Home’ message is not getting through to the public.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that the situation in the country “remains very precarious and extremely serious”.
From Saturday, click-and-collect services will be limited to retailers providing essential items only which includes clothing, footwear, baby equipment, homeware and books.
Any business who is still allowed to offer click-and-collect will also have to stagger collections by appointment.
Takeaways will only be allowed to operate from a serving hatch or doorway to minimise contact indoors.
There will be a statutory obligation on employers to allow staff to work from home.
Only essential work can be carried out by trades in people’s homes and drinking alcohol outdoors will not be permitted in any level four area in Scotland- this currently differs across regions.
The First Minister said: “I know that businesses affected by this change will be disappointed and that many have gone to great lengths to make services as safe as possible.
“But we must reduce as far as is possible the reasons people have just now for leaving home and coming into contact with others.
“I welcome the actions of those businesses that have voluntarily suspended click and collect and tightened their procedures in relation to face coverings.”
Latest figures show a further 55 coronavirus cases in Dumfries and Galloway in the past 24 hours, taking the total since the pandemic began to 2,910.
There are currently 53 people in hospital - five more than Tuesday and 13 in intensive care. That's one more than Wednesday.
Nationally, there were 1,949 new cases, with the total now at 155,372.
There are 1,794 people in hospital and 134 in intensive care.
A further 79 people have died, with the national toll now at 5,102.
