Coronavirus in Scotland: This is everything you can and can't do in the different regions of Scotland as of today

Millions of Scots will face different coronavirus restrictions today, when several local authorities will be placed in higher levels of Scotland’s regional lockdown system.

From 6pm this evening, 11 council areas will be placed in Level 4 - the highest tier - for three weeks.

Here is everything you need to know about the restrictions in your area.

What level is my region moving to?

Millions of Scots will face different coronavirus restrictions today, when several local authorities will be placed in higher and lower levels of Scotland’s regional lockdown system. 
 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)Millions of Scots will face different coronavirus restrictions today, when several local authorities will be placed in higher and lower levels of Scotland’s regional lockdown system. 
 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Millions of Scots will face different coronavirus restrictions today, when several local authorities will be placed in higher and lower levels of Scotland’s regional lockdown system. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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You can use the Scottish Government’s postcode checker here to see which level your local authority is currently operating in.

Level 0 - No council area has been placed in Level 0.

Level 1 - Councils in this area are: Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Moray and the Highland.

Level 2 - Councils in this area are: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Argyll & Bute, Borders and Dumfries & Galloway, Midlothian and East Lothian.

From 6pm this evening, 11 council areas will be placed in Level 4 - the highest tier - for three weeks. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)From 6pm this evening, 11 council areas will be placed in Level 4 - the highest tier - for three weeks. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
From 6pm this evening, 11 council areas will be placed in Level 4 - the highest tier - for three weeks. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Level 3 - Councils in this area are: Angus, Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross.

Level 4 - Councils in this area are: Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

What restrictions does each level come with?

Each level of Scotland’s regional lockdown system comes with different restrictions on things like household gatherings, travel, and which businesses can operate.

Existing guidance on moving in and out of areas with the greatest number of coronavirus cases would become law from 6pm on Friday. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)Existing guidance on moving in and out of areas with the greatest number of coronavirus cases would become law from 6pm on Friday. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Existing guidance on moving in and out of areas with the greatest number of coronavirus cases would become law from 6pm on Friday. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Level 0

Restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars can open indoors and outdoors for the consumption of food and alcoholic drinks in line with local licensing rules.

The maximum number of people who can meet outdoors in a restaurant, café, pub or bar is 15 which can be from up to 5 separate households.

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The maximum number of people who can meet indoors is eight, which can be from up to three separate households.

Level 1

Socialising is restricted to six people from two households inside and outside – however the First Minister said from Thursday this will change to eight people from three households outside.

The number of people able to attend weddings or funerals and their associated events is restricted to 20.

Amateur indoor sports among those over the age of 18 are not allowed.

Hospitality businesses must close by 10.30pm, inside and outside, with the last entry permitted at 9.30pm.

Level 2

Measures remain largely the same as in Level 1, however in-home socialising is prohibited, barring some exceptions including caring for a vulnerable person and for those in extended households.

Outdoor groups in public places are limited to six people from two households.

Cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls are the only leisure facilities allowed to remain open, with soft play, funfairs, indoor bowling, casinos, theatres, snooker or pool halls, music venues, nightclubs and adult entertainment venues all closed.

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Only drive-in events are permitted, with indoor, outdoor and stadium events cancelled.

Protective measures are in place at public buildings while NHS services reduce face-to-face contact with patients.

Indoor hospitality venues must close from 8pm, with last entry at 7pm, and outdoor businesses shut at 10.30pm.

Level 3

Socialising rules remain the same as in Level 2, with guidance issued for only essential hotel use.

Drive-in events are no longer permitted and cinemas, arcades and bingo halls will also be closed.

Indoor exercise is limited to individual workouts, with outdoor contact sports for those over the age of 18 banned, except professional sports.

Hospitality businesses are prohibited from selling alcohol and must close at 6pm, with last entry at 5pm.

Level 4

While socialising will stay the same as Level 3, non-essential retail will be closed and the limit on numbers at weddings will drop to 15, with 20 allowed in places of worship and at funerals.

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All hospitality will be closed, with only takeaway services permitted.

Gyms will again be closed and outdoor sport will be limited to non-contact only, though professional sport will continue.

Will schools stay open?

Schools in Scotland are set to stay open in all levels of the regional lockdown system.

Explaining the decision to keep children attending classes in person, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said schools were “not significant areas for transmission of the virus”.

“At this time the benefits that young people gain from being in school outweigh the overall impact of schools on transmission rates,” she added.

When do the new regional lockdown levels take effect?

For the areas heading into Level 4, the new rules come into force across Scotland from 6pm on Friday, November 20.

For those heading down a level, to level 2, the change will take effect on Tuesday, November 24.

Regions placed in Level 4 will face the toughest restrictions for a period of at least three weeks, according to the Scottish Government.

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The measures are reviewed by the First Minister and her cabinet every week, on Tuesday morning.

Have the travel restrictions become law?

Existing guidance on moving in and out of areas with the greatest number of coronavirus cases would become law from 6pm on Friday.

Announcing the decision on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon said: "To put it bluntly - and we will require to monitor this - if we see evidence that people from East or South Ayrshire are visiting places in North Ayrshire, or that people from Glasgow are going to Inverclyde, we would have no choice but to put these areas in level four too.

"So it is essential that we all abide by travel restrictions."

Scots who breach the travel ban could be issued with a fixed penalty notice for £60, reduced to £30 if paid within a month.

Subsequent breaches will see the fine double to a maximum of £960. In serious cases, the person could be prosecuted and subject to a court imposed fine.

But Ms Sturgeon said police would only enforce the restriction “as a last resort” where there was a “clear and flagrant breach”, and Police Scotland said there would be no roadblocks or routine stopping of vehicles during the three-week ban.

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