The SCA notes the First Minister’s announcement and the new ‘Stay at home’ message taking effect on the 5th January. We are currently reviewing the details and will prepare revised SCA guidance shortly.  In the meantime we highlight the following aspects of the ‘Stay at home guidance’ and encourage everyone to comply. 

From Tuesday 5 January, mainland Scotland will move from Level 4 to a temporary Lockdown where by law you can leave your home (or garden) only if you have a reasonable excuse. Examples of reasonable excuses include: (copied from Scottish Government website)

• “local outdoor recreation, sport or exercise, walking, cycling, golf, or running that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the boundary of your local authority area) as long as you abide by the rules on meeting other households” (see below)
• “for those involved in professional sports, for training, coaching or competing in an event.” 

In addition, (copied from Scottish Government website)

• “A maximum of 2 people from 2 separate households can meet outdoors for sport or exercise. Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards this number.
• The members of an individual household or extended household can meet outdoors for sport or exercise.
• You can travel for local outdoor sport or exercise such as meeting another person, walking, cycling, golf or running that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the boundary of your local authority area), as long as you abide by the rules on meeting other households.
• Indoor sports facilities are closed.
• Outdoor gyms can remain open.
• Outdoor non-contact sports such as golf and tennis are permitted for all age groups provided this is within a single household group, or the group contains no more than 2 people from 2 different households.  Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards this number.
• Organised sport and exercise can only take place within a single household group, or a group containing no more than 2 people from 2 different households.  Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards this number.
• Organised sport and exercise for under-12s can continue in line with workplace and socialising guidance, and sport-specific guidance agreed between the Scottish Governing Body of Sport and sportscotland. Sports providers must ensure they operate in line with the relevant guidance.“

COVID protection level 3 will continue to apply to 

• Orkney, 
• Shetland
• Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), 
• The following islands within Argyll and Bute: Coll, Colonsay, Erraid, Gometra, Iona, Islay, Jura, Mull, Oronsay, Tiree, and Ulva
• All islands in Highland, with the exception of Skye, which comes within the national restrictions.

These areas will continue to fall into the existing SCA guidance for Level 3.