It was a much tougher stance from the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon on Monday 1st of June after reports of people flocking to beauty spots over the weekend.

Scotland moved into Phase 1 of the partial easing of lockdown measures on Thursday 28th of May but with the clear guidance to Stay At Home. Phase 1 ‘Baby Steps’ But Covid 19 Is Still In The Islands

The new guidance allowed people to travel 5 miles for exercise and to remain near where they live. Flexibility was allowed for anyone who needed to travel more than 5 miles if it was to visit a relation. The camper vans parked at Loch Lomond were certainly not visiting a relative.

This prompted Nicola Sturgeon to state that if a minority continued to flout the relaxation of the restrictions that what was guidance will become law.

Nicola Sturgeon said:

“I’m told by the police that on Saturday alone there were 797 dispersals and that is people being moved on for not complying with the rules.

“To give some content to that, that 797 is five times higher than the figure the previous Saturday.”

And the First Minister did not hold back on her criticism of people who would put both themselves and others at risk by deliberately going against the clear guidance.

She continued:

“It is worth being clear, in fact I have a duty to be clear with you, that if there is continued evidence of even a minority not abiding by those guidelines and travelling unnecessarily – if people meet up in larger groups or make journeys which risk spreading the virus – we will have to put those restrictions, on group size and travel distance, into law. And we won’t hesitate to do so if we think it is necessary for the collective safety and wellbeing of the nation.”

The Health Secretary Jeane Freeman also stressed that a rise in cases would jeopardise the NHS being able to restart the many procedures which it has had to cancel/delay when services were repurposed to deal with Covid19.

The advice has not changed:

• stay at home
• only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons
• stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
• wash your hands regularly and as soon as you get home

To support mental and physical wellbeing Phase one permits:

• Travel of up to 5 miles for exercise
• Travel of more than 5 miles to visit a relative
• Gatherings – outdoors i.e. in a garden – of two households of not more than 8 people but maintaining the 2 m rule. Not going inside (to use the toilet) , bringing your own food and utensils.

In shops, on public transport and other confined spaces to wear a face covering.

This is a deadly virus which spreads very rapidly. If you have to self isolate and you have no family or friends to support you then there is a helpline which will direct the local support network to you. It is also important that you should book a test.

Click on this link for information about testing: Testing in Scotland

This is the helpline if you require support:

credit: Stewart Bremner