Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's route map through and out of the crisis

Annex

'Lockdown'

Epidemic Status

• High transmission of the virus. Risk of overwhelming NHS capacity without significant restrictions in place.

Criteria/ Conditions

• R is near or above 1 and there are a high number of infectious cases.

Protections advised in each phase

• Physical distancing requirements in place
• Frequent handwashing and hygiene measures for all
• Cough etiquette is maintained.
• Face coverings in enclosed public spaces, including public transport

Shielding:

We know how hard people at the highest clinical risk are finding the advice to shield, and that you are concerned about what will follow the initial 12 week shielding period. We will be updating the advice to people who are shielding in the course of the coming weeks. We will base that advice on what you are telling us about what matters to you, as well as on the evidence, in order to improve your quality of life while keeping your risks as low as possible.

Seeing family and friends

Lockdown restrictions:

• Strict physical distancing and hygiene measures
• Contact should be within own household only
• No public gatherings except for meetings of two people permitted.
• Self-isolation/household isolation if displaying symptoms
• Shielding of very high risk individuals

Getting around

Lockdown restrictions:

• Stay at home with essential travel only, staying in local area.
• Active travel including walking and cycling in local area for daily exercise
• Public transport operating with limited service and capacity with physical distancing
• Passengers recommended to wear face coverings, only to travel for essential purposes and to avoid busy routes/periods

Schools, childcare and other educational settings

Lockdown restrictions:

• Schools and childcare services closed
• Measures in place to support home learning and to provide outreach services to vulnerable children
• Critical childcare provision for key workers and vulnerable children provided through hubs, nurseries and childminding services
• Universities and colleges closed - remote learning and research

Working or running a business

Lockdown restrictions:

• Closure of non-essential workplaces
• Social distancing requirements for essential businesses
• Remote working is the default position

Shopping, eating and drinking out

Lockdown restrictions:

• Shopping for necessities, with distancing measures
• Closure of non-essential retail, libraries and some indoor public spaces
• Closure and restriction of businesses selling food or drink
• Closure of outdoor markets

Sport, culture and leisure activities

Lockdown restrictions:

• Daily (unlimited) exercise
• Closure of entertainment premises and leisure facilities
• Closure of playgrounds
• Closure of holiday accommodation

Community and public services

Lockdown restrictions:

• Limited number of courts open and business limited.
• Other services restricted where necessary in line with public health advice
• All jury business halted

Gatherings and occasions

Lockdown restrictions:

• No public gatherings of more than two people
• No mass gatherings
• Funerals take place with limited number of attendees

Health and Social Care

Lockdown restrictions:

• All non-urgent care health care services stopped and capacity focused on COVD-19 response:
• COVID hubs and assessment centres
• Provision for Covid-19 acute care in our hospitals including ICU
• Joint working to reduce delayed discharges by over 60% and prioritising "home first" and prioritisation of safety and wellbeing of care home residents and staff
• Urgent (including dental) and cancer care still available

Phase 1

Epidemic Status

• High risk the virus is not yet contained. Continued risk of overwhelming NHS capacity without many restrictions still in place.

Criteria/ Conditions

• R is below 1 for at least 3 weeks and the number of infectious cases is starting to decline.
• Evidence of transmission being controlled also includes a sustained fall in supplementary measures including new infections, hospital admissions, ICU admissions, deaths of at least 3 weeks

Protections advised in each phase

• Physical distancing requirements in place
• Frequent handwashing and hygiene measures for all
• Cough etiquette is maintained.
• Face coverings in enclosed public spaces, including public transport

Seeing family and friends

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• More outdoor activity permitted - such as being able to sit in the park, as long as physically distanced
• Meeting up with another household outdoors, in small numbers, including in gardens, but with physical distancing required

Getting around

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• 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.
• Permitted to travel short distances for outdoor leisure and exercise but advice to stay within a short distance of your local community (broadly within 5 miles) and travel by walk, wheel and cycle where possible.
• International border health measures are introduced

Schools, childcare and other educational settings

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• School staff return to schools
• Increased number of children accessing critical childcare provision.
• Re-opening of childminding services and fully outdoor nursery provision
• Transition support available to pupils starting P1 and S1 where possible.

Working or running a business

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Remote working remains the default position for those who can
• For those workplaces that are reopening, employers should encourage staggered start times and flexible working.
• Non-essential outdoor workplaces with physical distancing resume once relevant guidance agreed.
• Construction - Phases 0-2 of industry restart plan can be implemented. Industry to consult government before progressing to phase 2.
• Preparing for the safe reopening of the housing market.
• Workplaces resuming in later phases can undertake preparatory work on physical distancing and hygiene measures.

Shopping, eating and drinking out

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Gradual re-opening of drive through food outlets
• Garden centres and plant nurseries can reopen with physical distancing. Associated cafes should not reopen at this stage except for takeaway.

Sport, culture and leisure activities

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Consistent with the rules and guidance that are applicable to any activity in this phase:
• Unrestricted outdoors exercise adhering to distancing measures
• Non-contact, outdoor activities in your local areas e.g. golf, hiking, canoeing, outdoor swimming, angling.

Community and public services

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Gradual resumption of key support services at the community level with physical distancing and hygiene measures
• Restarting face to face Children's Hearings with physical distancing
• Greater direct contact for social work and support services with at risk groups and families with physical distancing and hygiene measures
• Access to respite/day care to support unpaid carers and for families with a disabled family member
• Household Waste Recycling Centres open
• Re-opening of court and tribunal buildings, with limited business and public access

Gatherings and occasions

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• No public gatherings permitted except for meetings of two households, outdoors and with physical distancing

Health and Social Care

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Beginning to safely restart NHS services, covering primary, and community services including mental health in a planned way in line with clinical priorities
• Phased resumption of some GP services supported by an increase in digital consultations
• Roll out the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service in community pharmacies.
• Increase care offered at emergency dental hubs as practices prepare to open
• Restart, where possible, urgent electives previously paused.
• Resumption of IVF treatment, as soon as it is safe to do so, and subject to the approval of HFEA
• Increase provision of emergency eyecare in the community
• We will consider the introduction of designated visitors to care homes

Phase 2

Epidemic Status

• Virus is controlled but risk of spreading remains. Focus is on containing outbreaks.

Criteria/ Conditions

• R is consistently below 1 and the number of infectious cases is showing a sustained decline.
• WHO six criteria for easing restrictions must be met
• Any signs of resurgence are closely monitored as part of enhanced community surveillance.

Protections advised in each phase

• Physical distancing requirements in place
• Frequent handwashing and hygiene measures for all
• Cough etiquette is maintained.
• Face coverings in enclosed public spaces, including public transport

Seeing family and friends

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Able to meet with larger groups including family and friends outside with physical distancing
• Meeting people from another household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures.

Getting around

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• 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.
• People are permitted to drive locally for leisure purposes.
• Public transport operating increased services but capacity still significantly limited to allow for physical distancing. Travel at peak times discouraged as far as possible.
• May be geographical differences depending on circumstances.

Schools, childcare and other educational settings

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• On campus university lab research restarted subject to physical distancing

Working or running a business

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Remote working remains the default position for those who can
• Non-essential indoor non-office based workplaces resume once relevant guidance agreed - including factories & warehouses, lab & research facilities - to re-open with physical distancing
• Construction sector to implement remaining stages of phased return
• Relaxation of restrictions on housing moves

Shopping, eating and drinking out

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Previously closed small retail units can reopen with physical distancing
• Outdoor markets with physical distancing, hygiene measures and controls on numbers of people within market
• Pubs and restaurants can open outdoor spaces with physical distancing and increased hygiene routines

Sport, culture and leisure activities

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Reopening of playgrounds and sports courts
• Resumption of professional sport in line with public health advice

Community and public services

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Further scaling up of public services from phase one where it is safe to do so.

Gatherings and occasions

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Registration offices open for high priority tasks
• Places of worship open for private prayer under physical distancing rules and hygiene safeguards
• Allow marriages and civil partnerships and other types of ceremonies to take place with minimal number of attendees

Health and Social Care

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Remobilisation plans implemented by Health Boards and Integrated Joint Boards to increase provision for pent up demand, urgent referrals and triage of routine services
• Reintroduce some chronic disease management which could include pain services, diabetic services
• All dental practices open to see patients with urgent care needs.
• Urgent care centres provide urgent aerosol generating procedures
• Prioritised referrals to secondary care begin.
• Enhance community based outreach healthcare services to provide wrap around care for care homes.
• Increase number of home visits to shielded patients
• Continue to plan with COSLA and Scottish Care to support and, where needed, review of social care and care home services
• Phased resumption of some screening services
• Expand range of GP services
• Phased safe resumption of essential optometry/ ophthalmology services
• Phased resumption of visiting to care homes by family members in a managed way where it is clinically safe to do so

Phase 3

Epidemic Status

• Virus has been suppressed. Continued focus on containing sporadic outbreaks.

Criteria/ Conditions

• R is consistently low and there is a further sustained decline in infectious cases.
• WHO six criteria for easing restrictions must continue to be met
• Any signs of resurgence are closely monitored as part of enhanced community surveillance.

Protections advised in each phase

• Physical distancing requirements in place
• Frequent handwashing and hygiene measures for all
• Cough etiquette is maintained.
• Face coverings in enclosed public spaces, including public transport

Seeing family and friends

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Able to meet with people from more than one household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures

Getting around

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Can drive beyond local area for leisure and exercise purposes
• Public transport operating full services but capacity still significantly limited to allow for physical distancing. Travel at peak times discouraged as far as possible.
• May be geographical differences depending on circumstances.

Schools, childcare and other educational settings

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Children return to school under a blended model of part-time in-school teaching and part-time in-home learning. Public health measures (including physical distancing) in place.
• Subject to the progress of the scientific evidence, schools are expected to open on this basis on 11 August.
• All childcare providers reopen subject to public health measures, with available capacity prioritised to support key worker childcare, early learning and childcare (ELC) entitlement and children in need
• Universities and colleges phased return with blended model of remote learning and limited on campus learning where a priority. Public health measures (including physical distancing) in place

Working or running a business

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Remote working remains the default position for those who can
• Non-essential indoor office workplaces can open, once relevant guidance agreed, including contact centres with physical distancing.

Shopping, eating and drinking out

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Larger retail reopen with physical distancing
• Pubs and restaurants can open in indoor spaces with physical distancing and increased hygiene routines
• Personal retail services including hairdressers open (with distancing and hygiene)

Sport, culture and leisure activities

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Museums, galleries, libraries, cinemas open, subject to physical distancing and hygiene measures
• Gyms open subject to physical distancing and hygiene measures
• Relaxation of restrictions on accommodation providers
• Live events permitted with restricted numbers and physical distancing restrictions

Community and public services

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Further resumption of justice system processes and services

Gatherings and occasions

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• People can meet in extended groups subject to physical distancing.
• Places of worship open to extended groups subject to physical distancing and hygiene safeguards
• Relaxation of restrictions to attendance at funerals, marriages and civil partnerships beyond "close family".

Health and Social Care

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Emergency and planned care services delivered
• Expansion of screening services
• Adult flu vaccinations including in care homes and care at home
• All dental practices begin to see registered patients for non-aerosol routine care. Urgent care centres to provide aerosol generating procedures
• All community optometry reopens with social distancing safeguards
• Some communal living experience can be re-started in homes where it is clinically safe to do so.

Phase 4

Epidemic Status

• Virus remains suppressed to very low levels and is no longer considered a significant threat to public health.

Criteria/ Conditions

• Virus is no longer considered a significant threat to public health.

Protections advised in each phase

• Physical distancing requirements to be updated on scientific advice
• Frequent handwashing and hygiene measures for all
• Cough etiquette is maintained.
• Face coverings may be advised in enclosed public spaces, including public transport

Seeing family and friends

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Further relaxation on restrictions on gatherings
• Continued importance of hygiene and public health emphasised

Getting around

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Public transport operating full service.
• Physical distancing may remain in place.

Schools, childcare and other educational settings

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Schools and childcare provision, operating with any necessary precautions
• College and university campuses open - including key student services with any necessary precautions

Working or running a business

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Remote and flexible working remains encouraged
• All workplaces open with improved hygiene and in line with public health advice

Shopping, eating and drinking out

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• All open with improved public health advice
• Shop local still encouraged

Sport, culture and leisure activities

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Further relaxation of restrictions on live events in line with public health advice

Community and public services

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Public services 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

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Mass gatherings resume in line with public health advice
• All ceremonies can take place, with improved hygiene and other precautions

Health and Social Care

As with previous phase but with the following changes:

• Full range of health and social care services provided and greater use of technology to provide improved services to citizens

Notes: Above examples are illustrations, and are not intended to be comprehensive. Each phase description should be viewed as a general description rather than precise definitions of permitted activities.

All decisions on phasing will be kept under review as the research evidence base on the impact of the virus and the effectiveness of different interventions builds.