These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (“the Local Levels Regulations”). With the exception of regulation 5, these Regulations come into force on 21 December 2020. Regulation 5 comes into force on 26 December.

Regulation 3 omits regulation 3A(modification of the restrictions in certain areas) from the Local Levels Regulations. This would have permitted limited in-house socialising on certain islands. This is no longer permitted.

Regulation 4 amends regulation 3B of the Local Level Regulations so that the temporary modification of restrictions: holiday gatherings will only have effect on 25 December 2020. It also provides that travel to an area outside of Scotland for the purpose of a holiday gathering is not permitted.

Regulation 5 substitutes Schedule 6 of the Local Level Regulations with a fresh Schedule. This schedule inserts two further areas into the table: (20) The islands in the Highland area (except the Isle of Skye) and (22) The Isle of Coll, the Isle of Colonsay, the Isle of Erraid, the Isle of Gometra, the Isle of Iona, the Isle of Islay, the Isle of Jura, the Isle of Mull, the Isle of Oronsay, the Isle of Tiree, and the Isle of Ulva.

The Schedule also changes the levels of restrictions and requirements which apply so that Level 4 applies to all areas, apart from the following exceptions which will move to Level 3:

1. 20)

   The islands in the Highland area (except the Isle of Skye),

2. 22)

   The Isle of Coll, the Isle of Colonsay, the Isle of Erraid, the Isle of Gometra, the Isle of Iona, the Isle of Islay, the Isle of Jura, the Isle of Mull, the Isle of Oronsay, the Isle of Tiree, and the Isle of Ulvathe islands of Argyll and Bute,

3. 27)

   Orkney Islands,

4. 28)

   Shetland Islands, and

5. 32)

   Na h-Eileanan Siar (These restrictions come into force at 0000 hours at 26 December 2020.