Walkhighlands

The Scottish Government have said they hope to lift restrictions on travelling between UK countries on the 26th April, or asap thereafter, subject to agreement from the other nations.

Wee Nicky , very quietly, mentioned that the new Scottish Tier System, due to be implemented soon, would have special conditions.
Those conditions, again mentioned by wee Nicky, might include intra area travel dependent on cases per hundred thousand.
Fifty cases per hundred thousand was referenced as identifying an area that people from could travel to other areas of the same rating.
Passing through nasty 100plus/100k areas without stopping might be allowed.
The 100plus/100k would still be local only.
It seems lots of folk didn't pick that up.

Pending elections night temper that; she might get re-elected though.

Good point, I haven't read the full strategic framework but the new variable levels system will use WHO indicators instead of the range that was used last year. These are much tighter.


https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-strategic-framework-update-february-2021/pages/protective-measures-and-our-levels-approach/

Looking at current infections, only Clackmannanshire would be placed in Level 3 in the old system but most of Scotland will be in Level 3 under the new one. Level 3 currently has the same travel restrictions as enhanced Level 4, meaning most of us could see no change on 26 April.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56618122

And if you then review the "Intermediate Zones" of Scotland, there are 1200 or so (I think they are local council voting wards- typically 3k to 5k people), you can find Wards with very high case/100k levels but the overall Council area is low.
And like Clackmannanshire, vice versa. One ward area with a huge spike in cases, enough cases to produce a distorted view of the whole area.
The Travelling Tabby website gives excellent data presentation.

https://www.travellingtabby.com/scotland-coronavirus-tracker/local

Thanks for the replies, all.

Dave

As far as I can understand it, the present expectation is that both self-catering and hotels will open from April 26th. Is that correct? (In England it will be self-catering and campsites only from April 12th, not hotels)

What about a "right to roam" certificate based on medical status. I have had one jab and am due for a second soon. I suppose that is out of the question, but the only reason I am likely not to cancel a Lake District hotel booking in June.

Just to reiterate that the latest timetable we have is still that restrictions on travel in mainland Scotland are to be removed on 26th April. This is likely to also include travel from the rest of the UK the same day or shortly after.

This would see all mainland areas move to level three and remove the current restrictions which require people to remain within their own local authority area [in level 3].

All accommodation categories are expected to open, but there will be restrictions i.e. numbers from different households (1 household indoors, 6 people from 3 outdoors from that date), social distancing, closing indoors 8pm, alcohol outdoors till 10pm, etc etc. This is across mainland Scotland.

There MAY still be restrictions on travel to islands that are in lower tiers than mainland - presumably so you can't go across the sea in order to have a pint indoors or meet in a bigger group etc. This is to be confirmed.

ChrisButch wrote:As far as I can understand it, the present expectation is that both self-catering and hotels will open from April 26th. Is that correct?

This is from the Govt's timetable:

Assuming the data allows it, we expect a more significant reopening of the economy and society from 26 April. This will likely include the following easings

- travel within all of mainland Scotland permitted (subject to other restrictions that remain in place)

- tourist accommodation to reopen (self-catering accommodation to be restricted in line with rules on indoor gathering)

Note the language ('assuming the data', 'we expect', 'will likely include'), nothing on the list is 100% guaranteed.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-timetable-for-easing-restrictions/pages/timetable/

Not overly keen, just correct.