Beyond Level 0’ Guidance

Introduction

  1. To ensure that it is safe to progress ‘Beyond Level 0’, guidance is being linked to the ‘Gateway condition’. This relates the amount of vaccine coverage to the Scottish Government’s new strategic intent to ‘suppress the virus at a level consistent with alleviating its harms’.
  2. Most legal restrictions relating to Covid-19 will be lifted on the 9th August 2021 when Scotland moves to ‘Beyond Level 0’. This includes restrictions on physical distancing and the size of social gatherings.  Additionally, no businesses will have to legally remain closed.
  3. Whilst these changes will signal the end of most restrictions for sport and physical activity it will not however signal the end of the epidemic. Covid-19 is a disease that will need to be managed for the foreseeable future and to maintain progress in returning to more normality, it is important that people continue to abide by a set of baseline measures covered by Scottish Government guidance and where relevant legislation.  This includes:
  • Good hand hygiene and surface cleaning.
  • Continued promotion of good ventilation.
  • Requirement for face coverings in certain settings (e.g., public transport, retail).
  • Continued compliance with Test and Protect, including self-isolation when necessary.
  • Ongoing need for outbreak management capability, including active surveillance.
  • Continue to encourage a greater degree of working from home than pre-COVID-19. Where this is possible and appropriate, it will not only assist with controlling transmission of the virus, but also promote wellbeing more generally.
    1. The information outlined below summarises the key areas which will change as we move ‘Beyond Level 0’ and should be read in conjunction with Return to sport and physical activity guidance to inform the development of sport specific information which will be shared with participants, clubs, local authorities/trusts, third sector and other sports facility operators.
    2. It is the responsibility of each club committee, sports facility operator and/or deliverer (herein referred to as the operator) to ensure that full risk assessments, processes and mitigating actions continue to be applied before any sport or leisure activity takes place and to check if the activity is in an area which is subject to additional Scottish Government localised measures and restrictions.
    3. Where a local outbreak has been reported sport and physical activity operators, in all settings, should review their risk assessment and consider if additional mitigating actions should be put in place to reduce risk. This may, for example, include suspending activity, enhancing hygiene and physical distancing measures, or introducing additional activity restrictions.
    4. Scottish Government may update or change Levels and restrictions at any time, including local areas subject to them. Therefore, COVID officers should regularly check Coronavirus (COVID-19): Local Protection Levels.

Travel Restrictions

  1. ‘Beyond Level 0’ no travel restrictions will be applicable, within or between areas in Scotland, which are not categorised under the protection level system. Please refer to the Travel Guidance section within Return to Sport for further information on where restrictions will apply should a local area move into protection levels.
  2. Scottish Government are also continuing to monitor the UK wide and International Covid-19 position. Further information on restrictions applicable between Scotland and other parts of the UK and internationally is available on the Scottish Government website at Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel and transport.

Health, Safety & Hygiene

  1. High levels of personal hygiene and respiratory etiquette will remain essential as we move Beyond Level 0.
  2. Operators should continue to follow Scottish Government guidance on health, safety and hygiene measures including face covering advice. Please refer to the Health, Safety and Hygiene section of the Return to Sport guidance for further information including relevant links.

Test & Protect

  1. Contact tracing and testing of close contacts will continue as we move forward through the pandemic, including ‘Beyond Level 0’. Test & Protect will change as the population becomes more protected by vaccination but will still play a role in mitigating clusters and outbreaks where they arise.
  2. Operators should continue to maintain customer records and follow applicable guidance available in the Test & Protect section of Return to Sport guidance.

Competition & Events

  1. Organised sporting competition and events can take place ‘Beyond Level 0’ but should continue to follow guidance outlined in the Sports Events & Competition section within Return to Sport guidance.
  2. At present this includes a restriction on spectator numbers of up to 5000 outdoors and 2000 indoors unless an exemption is provided by the relevant Local Authority and permission obtained from other relevant bodies from which the organiser would normally require agreement to run the competition/event.
  3. Other bodies depending on the type, location, and scale of the event, may include the landowner, Community Council, the transport police, or other body responsible for the safety of the public.
  4. Where a competition/event requires a licence from a Local Authority under existing Civic Government legislation, this must include agreement from local Environmental Health Officers.

Hospitality

  1. Sports facility operators providing catering or bar services should refer to Scottish Government guidance for applicable guidance including takeaway services.  Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance. 

Retail

  1. Retail units operated by sports facility operators should follow Scottish Government Retail Sector Guidance.

 

DISCLAIMER

Neither sportscotland, nor any contributor to the content of this guidance, shall be responsible for any loss or damage of any kind, which may arise from your use of or reliance on this guidance note. Care has been taken over the accuracy of the content of this note but sportscotland cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or reflects all relevant legal requirements. We recommend that you obtain professional specialist technical and legal advice before taking, or refraining from, any action based on information contained in this note.