16th December 2020

 

Dear Member

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Nations of the UK have this week amended their advice to the population over how to behave during the Christmas period.  Whilst this largely impacts non-business guidance it is worth noting

• Wales, – In addition to stronger guidance and a bubble maximum of two households (as opposed to three), Mark Drakeford today announced non-essential retail will have to close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve and hospitality must close from 6.00 p.m. on Christmas Day.  After the Christmas holiday, Wales will enter a Tier 4 National Lockdown for an indefinite period.  This will mean non-essential retail and hospitality will have to remain closed.

 

• Scotland – we are awaiting for the new Guidance to be published in detail, but it will change principally the guidance for Christmas gatherings.  One main change was that people should only meet on one of the five days of the Christmas relaxations,  There are currently no changes to the Level system, but yesterday three more areas were placed in Level 3 – Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and East Lothian will all move at 6.00 p.m. on Friday 18^th December.

 

• England – likewise the guidance on Christmas gatherings was strengthened but only by emphasising the need to keep interactions to a minimum both in number, frequency and duration.