Updates: Latest news on coronavirus

From Saturday 05 June the following areas go into Level 1:
East and West Lothian
Falkirk
Fife
Scottish Borders

What it means for Level 1 areas

• Congregational singing is allowed at Mass. Masks must still be worn. BCOS is inquiring about the use of hymnals as there is no current guidance on this.
• Up to 100 people can attend weddings and funeral (depending on size of church, ie with 2 metre physical distancing).
• NB Church capacity for Mass etc has not increased. It remains the same for all churches in all areas because of 2 metre physical distancing requirements.

All other areas remain in Level 2. Singing can only take part in small groups and the max capacity for funerals and weddings is 50.

Baptisms
Government guidance now asks places of worship to apply the same criteria to Baptisms as they do to other acts of worship such as Holy Mass. So capacity for a Baptism outside of Mass may be based on 2m physical distancing.
Please note that different rules still apply to funerals and weddings.
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Scottish Government on Weddings (for all areas)
‘With effect from 5 June, the amended physical distancing requirements will allow businesses, services and places of worship to permit a party to the marriage or civil partnership to be accompanied down the aisle or to join the celebrant or registrar for the start of the ceremony or registration by a guest (such as a parent or parents) who is not in the same household or extended household, without physical distancing being observed.
The exemption permitting a party to the marriage or civil partnership not to wear a face covering for the duration of the ceremony or registration in an indoor public place is also amended with effect from 5 June.
The effect is the party to the marriage or civil partnership does not have to wear a face covering whilst being accompanied even if physical distancing is not observed. The party, of course, may choose to wear a face covering whilst being accompanied.
There is no change to the requirement for guests to wear a face covering during the ceremony or registration in an indoor public place, unless exempt. Therefore, the person accompanying the party to the marriage or civil partnership will still need to wear a face covering, unless exempt generally.’

Childcare guidance
Unregulated childcare guidance has been updated and capacity may now be based on physical distancing (note that physical distancing does not apply to those aged 12 and under). Unregulated childcare includes babies and toddler groups and church run groups for children. Please note that different guidance applies to regulated childcare settings which are groups registered to the Care Inspectorate or other registered body.

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