West Dunbartonshire placed in Level Three Covid-19 restrictions

West Dunbartonshire Council

The Scottish Government has announced West Dunbartonshire will be placed under Level Three restrictions to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 in the area.

During an announcement today (Thursday), the new five-level alert system for Scotland was outlined, with each authority placed in a level based on prevalence of the virus.

Under Level Three guidelines  residents will continue to be unable to visit each other’s homes and should avoid non-essential travel out of the area.

In addition, the Level Three restrictions – which come into force at 6am on November 2 – mean hospitality venues including restaurants, cafes, bars and public houses can open until 6pm, however no alcohol can be served.  

Entertainment venues, including bowling alleys and bingo halls will continue to remain closed.

Though gyms can remain open, as with previous restrictions, indoor group exercise classes cannot take place, and outdoor contact sports for adults, including amateur football, are not permitted.

People from two different households can continue to meet outdoors and in hospitality settings in groups of no more than six people, providing existing guidance on face coverings, physical distancing and hygiene is adhered to.

Schools and nurseries will remain open and informal childcare and other essential care is permitted in line with household and group size restrictions.

The guidelines state that residents should only use public transport for essential journeys, and avoid car-sharing with other households wherever possible.

While weddings and funerals can still go ahead, numbers at both of these events will be restricted to 20 people, with the same limit applied to receptions and wakes. Only 50 people will be admitted to places of worship at one time.

The Scottish Government will review the levels on a weekly basis, with the next review scheduled for  November 10, and any required changes taking affect from Friday 13 November.

If any area is placed into Level Four, the highest of the new system, non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms, public buildings and visitor attractions will all close.

If moved into Level Two, entertainment venues could reopen, as well as group exercise recommencing. Hospitality venues would be permitted to open later and serve alcohol outdoors or indoors with a main meal.

Level three restrictions have also been put in place in Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire,  North Lanarkshire,  Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

Further information on level restrictions can be found here: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/pages/protection-levels-by-area/

Council Leader, Councillor Jonathan McColl, said: “I know that these Level Three restrictions are disruptive to our lives, but I am once again urging you all to continue to follow the guidance to protect yourself and your community from this dangerous virus. The number of people in West Dunbartonshire suffering from Covid-19 has risen into triple figures in recent weeks, and it is essential that we all play our part in bringing that number down. Please do not visit each other’s homes, and only meet outdoors in groups of no more than 6 from two households. Please remember to use a face covering, avoid crowded areas and practice good hand hygiene.

“The simple truth is that if we don’t follow the guidance laid out here, we will inevitably see ourselves back under restrictions not too dissimilar from those we saw at the height of this pandemic in April. After we’ve all worked so hard for months to fight this virus, it’s more important than even that we don’t give up now.

“Please do the right thing for West Dunbartonshire.”