Six new Ayrshire lockdown rules that come into force tomorrow

Mainland Scotland will be put under tough new lockdown rules tomorrow.

Ayrshire residents will be subject to six new measures created to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

The restrictions come into force on Saturday and include the closure of non essential click and collect services and takeaways having to serve from a hatch or doorway.

Click and collect

From Saturday, non-essential click and collect retail services will be prohibited in Level 4 areas and further changes will be put in place to how services open for essential purposes operate.

Timeslots will be required for collection and people should not enter a store to collect an item.

Takeaways

Businesses providing takeaway food will also operate on a ‘non-entry’ basis only, meaning customers cannot enter the premises when placing or collecting orders.

Alcohol outdoors

Restrictions banning the consumption of alcohol in public places will also be introduced. Meaning that it will be against the law to pick up a takeaway pint and drink it in the street.

Working from home

Working from home arrangements will be strengthened through updated statutory guidance. Working from home should now be the default position for all businesses and services, and only those who cannot do their job from home should be asked to go to the workplace. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that if you were working from home in March, you should be doing so again.

Leaving home

Nobody who lives in a Level 4 area should leave or remain outside their home except for essential purposes. The Scottish Government introduced this after some used a loophole to exploit the original wording of the rule where they would leave their home for an essential purpose but remain out for an non essential reason.

Working in other homes

Guidance has already been issued in Level 4 areas that state work is only permitted within a private dwelling if it is essential for the upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household.

This will now be put into law.

What has the First Minister had to say?

In a statement to parliament, Ms Sturgeon said: “The situation we face in relation to the virus remains extremely serious.

“We must continue to do everything possible to reduce case numbers – this is essential to relieve the pressure on our NHS and to save lives.

“Both individually and collectively, these additional measures – in further reducing the interactions that allow the virus to spread – will help our essential efforts to suppress it.

“At this critical and dangerous moment, please: Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.”