These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (“the Local Levels Regulations”). The Regulations come into force on 16 April 2021.

Regulation 3 amends schedule 4 of the Local Levels Regulations (level 3 restrictions).

Regulation 3(2) amends paragraph 11, to increase the number of adults who can gather outdoors in a public place.

Regulation 3(3) amends paragraph 12, to increase the number of adults who can gather in private dwellings outdoors.

Regulation 3(4) relates to outdoor exercise or outdoor recreation as examples of a reasonable excuse for entering or leaving a Level 3 area. Paragraph 15 is amended so that the condition that outdoor exercise or recreation must start and end at the same place, which must be in the local government area in which the person lives, or within 5 miles of that area, no longer applies in order for the reasonable excuse to be available. The outdoor exercise or recreation cannot involve an overnight stay outwith the area in which the person lives. Paragraph 15 is further amended so that the reasonable excuse of entering or leaving a Level 3 area for the purposes of outdoor organised sport or an organised activity is not available unless the organised sport or activity is for persons under the age of 18.

Regulation 4 amends schedule 5 of the Local Levels Regulations (level 4 restrictions).

Regulation 4(2) amends paragraph 12, to increase the number of adults who can gather outdoors in a public place.

Regulation 4(3) amends paragraph 13, to increase the number of adults who can gather in a private dwelling outdoors.

Regulation 4(4) relates to outdoor exercise or outdoor recreation as examples of a reasonable excuse for entering or leaving a Level 4 area. Paragraph 16 is amended so that the condition that outdoor exercise or recreation must start and end at the same place, which must be in the local government area in which the person lives, or within 5 miles of that area no longer, applies in order for the reasonable excuse to be available. The outdoor exercise or recreation cannot involve an overnight stay outwith the area in which the person lives. Paragraph 16 is further amended so that the reasonable excuse of entering or leaving a Level 4 area for the purposes of outdoor organised sport is not available unless the organised sport is for persons under the age of 18.