Coronavirus Covid-19 Allocation Of Levels To Local Authorities Areas

29th October 2020

New protection levels that will apply in each local authority area in Scotland from Monday 2 November 2020.

Highland is allocated to Level One.[b]

[b]COVID-19 Protection Level: 1

Socialising (different rules apply for children, further guidance will be issued shortly)

6/2 indoors (at times, depending on circumstances, we may need to stop indoor socialising in Level 1 in an area) i.e. max 6 people from 2 households

6/2 outdoors

Hospitality (food and drink)

Hospitality (alcohol on sale outdoors)

permitted - time restrictions may apply

Hospitality (alcohol on sale indoors)

permitted - time restrictions may apply

Hospitality (food for consumption on premises)

permitted - time restrictions may apply

Takeaways

takeaways permitted for alcohol and food as per existing arrangements

Accommodation (hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, caravan and camp sites)

open - socialising rules apply

Travel

no non-essential travel to/from level 3 or higher areas in Scotland and equivalents in rest of UK.

exemptions for essential travel for work, education, shopping, health etc; outdoor exercise; weddings and funerals; and transit through restricted areas

international quarantine regulations apply

otherwise unrestricted

Transport

active travel (walk, run, cycle, wheel) where possible

avoid car sharing with people outside extended household wherever possible

face coverings compulsory on public transport

Shopping

open

Close contact services (e.g. hairdressers, barbers, tailors and beauticians)

open

mobile close contact services permitted

Public buildings - e.g. libraries

open

Stadia and events

outdoor events seated and open space permitted (restricted numbers)

outdoor grouped standing events not permitted

small seated indoor events permitted

stadia – open with restricted numbers

Worship

open – restricted numbers (50)

Life events (weddings, and civil partnerships, funerals) ceremonies and receptions/wakes

weddings/civil partnerships – 20 person limit

funerals – 20 person limit

wakes and receptions permitted, subject to 20 person limit.

Early learning and childcare (ELC)(formal childcare)

open – with standard protective measures in place

Informal childcare

permitted in line with household/numbers restrictions

Schools

open – with standard protective measures in place

Colleges

blended

Universities

blended

Driving lessons

permitted

Sports and exercise

all permitted except age 18+ indoor contact sports (professional permitted).

Leisure and entertainment

open with the exception of adult entertainment and nightclubs (unless permitted events).

Visitor attractions

open

Public services (health following NHS remobilisation plan)

open

Unregulated children's activities (incl. youth clubs, children's groups)

permitted

Support services (mental health, counselling, day services, respite care)

permitted

Offices and call centres

essential only/working from home

Other workplaces

open – working from home default where possible

Shielding

This is advice, consider which level of protection is right for you.

All levels: We will not ask you to distance from people within your own homes or to stop taking outdoor exercise.

Level 1 shielding

Contact with others: follow the level advice to the general population

Shopping: strictly follow the guidelines when shopping

If you cannot work from home: following a workplace risk assessment, your employer should make the necessary adjustments to your workplace to protect you. You can discuss getting a fit note with your GP or clinician if you still feel unsafe.

School/formal childcare: follow the level advice to the general population

Purpose

1. This document sets out which level, as described in Scotland's Strategic Framework, will apply in each local authority area in Scotland from Monday 2 November 2020 (Annex A). It also summarises the reasons underlying the decision for each local authority area (Annex B).

2. The initial part of the document explains how the decisions set out in this paper were made and how these decisions will be actively reviewed in future.

3. An evidence paper setting out the data and analysis supporting these decisions is being published separately.

For all other areas of Scotland to check levels go HERE

Context

4. The Scottish Government is committed to suppressing the SARS-CoV-2 virus to the lowest possible level and keeping it there while we strive to return to a more normal life for as many people as possible.

5. In support of this aim the Scottish Government published Scotland's Strategic Framework on 23 October. The Framework sets out an approach based on levels of protection, each with graduated packages of measures designed to reduce

transmission of the virus, that can be applied nationally or to different areas of the country according to the evolving patterns of infection and transmission.

6. The Framework indicates that the measures are most likely to be applied at the level of local authorities, which is the basis of the initial allocation of levels set out in this document. There is however discretion to apply levels in future to whichever geography is most likely to be effective in suppressing the virus.

7. The Framework, including the design of the proposed levels, follows the "four harms" approach set out in the Scottish Government's COVID-19 Framework for Decision Making. This explicitly recognises that action taken to suppress the virus

can itself cause harm to wider health and to the social and economic well-being of the nation. While the levels are intended to provide a more consistent basis for public understanding their content will be kept under review to ensure as far as possible they are adequately mitigating wider harms while having sufficient

impact on suppressing the virus.

Decision making

8. Given the risk of harm from action intended to suppress the virus, decisions taken on the basis of this Framework and the consequent actions have to be justified, necessary and proportionate.

9. The Framework itself, including the content of the levels, has been subject to a full Parliamentary debate and vote. Any further revisions to the Framework will be subject to enhanced

Parliamentary scrutiny.

10. The Framework and associated decision making will be given effect in new regulations from Monday 2 November. These will replace the previous regulations.

11. In relation to decisions to allocate levels to local authority areas, the Framework is clear that they have to be based firmly in the best available evidence, assessed through a process that is open, transparent and collaborative and frequently reviewed so that restrictions are not kept in place longer than is strictly necessary

to achieve the aim of suppressing the virus.

12. In summary, the process starts with the daily and weekly analysis of data, agreed with local partners including Directors of Public Health, which will then be considered on a weekly basis by the National Incident Management Team (NIMT), chaired by Public Health Scotland and including representatives from local government. This assessment by the NIMT will focus on the impact of measures designed to suppress the virus (harm 1). The advice from the NIMT will then be considered by chief advisers in the Scottish Government representing all the "four harms", which again will include representatives from local government.

This group will help form recommendations for Ministers on allocation of levels which will be discussed with the relevant local authorities.

13. This is the process that was followed in coming to the initial allocation of levels that will come into force on Monday 2 November. Future reviews following the process outlined above will cover whether existing levels should be maintained or whether any local authority should move up or down levels.

14. The first review of the levels allocated to local authorities will be in week beginning 9 November. Reviews will take place weekly. It is not the intention to review every allocated level every week, but this rhythm creates the opportunity to review levels when necessary and without delay, to ensure that measures only remain in place for so long as that is justified, necessary and proportionate.

15. Although there is a clear commitment to engage on the nature and application of this Framework, including full Parliamentary scrutiny of any future amendments to the Framework, it is ultimately for Scottish Ministers to make decisions to apply or amend the Framework, including allocation of levels, in line with their statutory

powers to protect public health.

Indicators

16. The Framework sets out how Ministers will ensure that decisions are informed by data and analysis. The critical indicators which will inform decision making on allocation of levels are:

a) The number of cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days.

b) The percentage of tests that are positive over the past seven days.

c) Forecasts of the number of cases per 100,000 consisting of the weekly number of cases in two weeks' time.

d) Current and projected future use of local hospital beds, compared with capacity.

e) Current and projected future use of intensive care beds, compared with capacity

17. It should be noted that there is a reporting delay in testing results so data for indicators (a) and (b) are drawn with a three day lag to allow for results to be available. This means that the data drawn, for instance, on 27 October will have a specimen date of 24 October.

18. All the data used in decision making will be published either on the Public Health Scotland COVID-19 Daily Dashboard (indicators (a) and (b)) or by the Scottish Government (indicators (c), (d), and (e)). The choice of indicators will be kept under review and updated as new or improved data become available or conditions change. Further detail on the data and analysis supporting decision

making is set out in the accompanying evidence paper.

19. Although data is critical it is not in itself conclusive. Wider considerations may well apply in assessing how the virus has, is and will impact on a local authority area. These considerations include (but are not limited to):

 Application of general principles of public health and effective disease control including the precautionary principle which may suggest caution in some circumstances and early intervention in others;

 the prevalence of infection in neighbouring areas including relevance of travel routes in and out of an area;

 trends in the data which may in some cases point to the need for a period of consolidation or stability before the allocation of a level can be reduced;

 the effectiveness and sustainability of local public health measures including

Test and Protect;

 the relevance of "special cause" explanations such as particular outbreaks or events that may require more limited or specific action to suppress the virus;

 that hospital capacity may need to be considered regionally and even nationally and not just locally.

20. As the process of weekly review proceeds we expect to come to learn more about what is effective in suppressing the virus. This will lead to ever greater refinement and reliability in decision making. There will of necessity be a focus on ensuring the stability of measures to suppress the virus in particular as we move

to introduce this new approach.

Conclusion

21. The Framework published on 23 October sets out a wider context for the decisions summarised in this paper including action underway to encourage and enable adherence to guidance and regulations, and support for business and the economy. The approach is intended to be coherent and comprehensive. No part

will be effective on its own.

22. The best way to reduce the level of restriction remains how we live our lives. That means the effectiveness of the Framework relies on everyone doing what they can to prevent the virus spreading, including following the FACTS guidance. If we do that, the virus will be denied the chance to spread, and more of Scotland will

be able to move back to lower levels in the framework, and the sooner as many of us as possible we will return to a more normal life.

New COVID-19 protection measures from Monday 2 November.

Council areas have been notified as to which Coronavirus (COVID-19) protection level they will have to adhere to from 06:00 Monday (2 November).

The assessment of what level of protection should be applied to each local authority is broadly based on an analysis of five key indicators:

number of positive COVID-19 cases per hundred thousand people over the last week

percentage of positive tests

forecast for new cases in the weeks ahead

capacity of local hospitals

capacity of local intensive care facilities

These factors are assessed alongside the advice and recommendations of local public health officials, National Incident Management Team, the Scottish Government's chief clinical and policy advisors, and consideration of local circumstances, such as: specific COVID-19 outbreaks; travel and work patterns; and the extent to which health services are provided by neighbouring health boards. Final decisions are based on all of these factors.

Alongside a table setting out the levels, a detailed analysis paper has also been published setting out the Scottish Government’s assessment and overall decision for each local authority.

Level 1:

Highland

Moray

Western Isles

Orkney

Shetland

Level 2:

Aberdeenshire

Aberdeen

Fife

Scottish Borders

Dumfries & Galloway

Argyll & Bute

Perth & Kinross

Angus

Level 3:

Inverclyde

East Dunbartonshire

West Dunbartonshire

Renfrewshire

East Renfrewshire

City of Glasgow

South Ayrshire

East Ayrshire

North Ayrshire

Stirling

Falkirk

Clackmannanshire

City of Edinburgh

Midlothian

West Lothian

East Lothian

Dundee

North Lanarkshire

South Lanarkshire

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:"Here in Scotland and across the UK, we have been dealing with the same pattern of COVID-19 resurgence as experienced right around the world. Europe is now firmly in the grip of a second wave and only last night both France and Germany re-imposed nationwide lockdowns.

“In Scotland, we acted early – with some difficult but necessary measures – and while we have no grounds for complacency we do see some encouraging signs – in the last week, cases have increased by 4% whereas two weeks ago the weekly increase was 40%.

“All of that is down to the sacrifices of people the length and breadth of the country, and I thank people for that. But this virus is still highly infectious and it will take every opportunity to spread. If we all dig in and stick with it, this proportionate approach has a real chance of being sustainable and keeping Covid under control over the winter.

“If we succeed, we open the prospect – in all parts of the country – of being able to lead lives which are substantially closer to normal in the weeks and months to come."

Allocation table, modelling paper and COVID-19 indicators can be found online: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-allocation-of-levels-to-local-authorities/

The latest estimate is that while the R number is still above 1, indications are it may have fallen to 1.3.

The five-level strategic framework aims to tackle COVID-19 with measures strong enough to reduce virus prevalence while proportionate to the scale of the problem in different parts of the country - and in a way that minimises, as far as possible, the other harms caused by the pandemic.