Latest update during the COVID-19 health emergency

Sunday, 13 December 2020

Latest update during the COVID-19 health emergency

Further update - for Sunday 13th December from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End) and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry) :

BUSINESS GRANTS

Businesses across Scotland will benefit from a new £185 million package of support including:

• Tourism including self-catering - £60 million

• Hospitality - £30 million

• Wedding venues and supply chain including photographers - £15 million

• Mobile close contact services, such as hairdressers - £15 million

• Taxi Drivers - £19 million

• Travel agents - £5 million

• Coach companies and tour operators - £6 million

• Visitor attractions - £1.5 million

More detail on the package will be announced soon and businesses can expect to apply for all the new grant schemes in January.

https://www.gov.scot/news/new-gbp-185-million-package-for-business/

SELF ISOLATION CUT TO 10 DAYS

Anyone required to self-isolate, due to contact with someone who has had a positive test for coronavirus or as a result of quarantine rules on arrival from overseas will need to do so for 10 days following updated clinical advice.

Currently the self-isolation period for international travellers and for contacts of positive cases in Scotland is 14 days but this will change from Monday 14th December.

https://www.gov.scot/news/reduction-in-self-isolation/

TRAVEL QUARANTINE

Travellers arriving in Scotland from the Canary Islands must self-isolate. However, travellers arriving from Botswana and Saudi Arabia will not have to self isolate.

https://www.gov.scot/news/canary-islands-designated-for-public-health-quarantine/

UK AND IRELAND TRAVEL

Travel to and from Jersey is banned but the ban on travel to the Republic of Ireland has been lifted. Infection rates in Donegal remain high so people should not travel there. Travel restrictions remain in place between Scotland and England, Northern Ireland and Wales except for essential reasons.

https://www.gov.scot/news/common-travel-area-restrictions-updated/

HIGHERS AND ADVANCED HIGHERS CANCELLED

Higher and Advanced Higher exams will not go ahead and will be replaced with awards based on teacher judgement of evidence of pupils’ attainment. The assessment model will be based on the approach already agreed for National 5 awards.

A higher proportion of pupils from more deprived areas having to spend time out of school because of the pandemic. Holding exams would run the risk of translating the unequal impact of COVID into unfair results for our poorest pupils, leading to their futures being blighted through no fault of their own.

https://www.gov.scot/news/sqa-awards-update/

UNIVERSITY STAGGERED RETURN

Universities will stagger the return of undergraduate students to campuses over at least six weeks. When students return, they will be offered lateral flow testing. All students are being asked to restrict their social interaction for a fortnight before they return to university and for the same period after they get there.

College students – who largely do not move away from home to go to education – should return as planned.

https://www.gov.scot/news/staggered-return-to-campus-for-university-students/

HOSPITAL AND CARE HOME VISITING

Visiting arrangements for hospitals and care homes will remain in place over the Christmas and New Year period. However, the special Christmas relaxation for the general public will not apply.

Christmas and New Year guidance has also been published for the adult care home sector, recommending that indoor visiting should continue to be supported where it is safe to do so, as well as setting out specific safeguards that care homes can put in place to safely support festive activities.

SUPPORT FOR TENANTS

A £10 million fund which offers interest-free loans to tenants who are struggling with rent arrears has opened.

https://www.gov.scot/news/increased-support-for-tenants/

NURSERY RATE RELIEF

Qualifying day nurseries will continue to benefit from 100% relief on non-domestic rates until at least June 2023.

https://www.gov.scot/news/nursery-rate-relief-extended-until-2023/

SHORT TERM LETS

Existing hosts of short-term lets will now have until April 2023 to apply for a licence. There is considerable concern in the sector about the implementation of these measures when it is facing considerable economic challenge.

https://www.gov.scot/news/new-standards-for-short-term-lets/

SPORT FUNDING

A £55 million emergency sports funding package to tackle lost ticket revenue includes :

• Scottish Football - £20 million

• Scottish Rugby - £15 million plus £5 million loan

• Basketball - £300,000

• Netball - £100,000

• Motorsport - £400,000

• Ice Hockey - £200,000

• Ice rinks - £2 million

• Horseracing - £2 million

https://www.gov.scot/news/emergency-funding-for-sport/