Dumfries and Galloway placed at Protection Level 2 in new national COVID-19 Framework

Dumfries and Galloway has been placed at Level 2 within the national five-level protection system aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus.

The new scale runs from 0 to 4, with 0 having the least restrictions and 4 the most significant.

All retailers can open providing they follow and have implemented Scottish Government guidance to ensure the safety of customers and staff. 

Read more:

Whilst retailers will implement procedures to ensure the safety of customers and staff it is an individual’s responsibility to ensure they comply with the following guidance:

  • do not visit any retail premises if you have tested positive or have developed any of the COVID-19 symptoms
  • you must wear a face covering when you go into any retail premises including any indoor area of a shopping centre, unless exempt.   Face covering policy
  • you must follow direction signs, one way systems and shop capacities if provided by a retail outlet
  • maintain a 2 metre physical distance between people not in your household (or extended household)
  • if shopping with others you must only do so from a maximum of 6 people from up to 2 different households (or extended households).

In order to keep transmission rates as low as possible you are also advised to:

  • avoid crowded shops. Try to avoid times when shops will be busy. If you do not think you can maintain social distancing in a shop, come back later.
  • visit stores that are using infection control measures and use the available hand sanitiser
  • try to avoid touching goods unless you intend to buy them
  • be polite. Please ensure that you are considerate to retail staff and abide by their guidance and instructions including removing face covering if requested for proof of age
  • shop local and do not travel further than necessary to visit stores
  • be patient – shopping may take longer than you may be used to and you may need to queue for longer as a result.  Please do not smoke when queuing outside shops

Mobile close contact service providers must not operate in level 2 with the exception of hairdressers and barbers.

Close contact retail services are permitted to operate providing they follow Scottish Government guidance to ensure the safety of customers and staff.  Read more: Guidance for close contact services

Close contact services include:

  • hairdressing and barbers
  • beauty and nail services (including make-up)
  • hair removal
  • tattoo, piercing and body modification
  • fashion design, dress-fitting and tailoring
  • indoor portrait photography
  • massage therapies
  • complementary and alternative medicine services requiring physical contact or close physical proximity between persons, but not osteopathy and chiropractic services
  • spa and wellness services
  • other services or procedures which require physical contact or close physical proximity between a provider and a customer and are not ancillary to medical, health, or social care services

Whilst close contact retail service providers will implement mandated safety procedures to ensure the safety of customers and staff it is an individual’s responsibility to ensure they comply with the following guidance:

  • people should not visit any close contact service premises if they have tested positive or have developed any of the COVID-19 symptoms
  • face coverings should be worn at all times by staff and customers, unless they are exempt. Read the face covering guidance. Close contact service providers cannot provide any service such as a facial or beard trim. which requires a customer to remove their face covering
  • close contact service premises may have a maximum capacity so customers may need to queue outside
  • customers should stay at least 2 metres apart

Customers will be asked for contact details for Test and Protect purposes. This information is retained for 21 days so that it can be shared with Test and Protect Teams, if required.