Is coronavirus guidance different for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Travel and exercise

In Scotland and Wales, people can exercise outdoors more than once a day, but only if they stay in their local area. Sunbathing and picnicking are not permitted. Currently, Northern Ireland is the only one of the four nations which has not yet eased exercise restrictions - people should only exercise outside their homes once a day.

However, On 12th May, the Northern Ireland Executive published its five-stage plan for easing its coronavirus restrictions. Part of their first phase will be the opening of outdoor spaces and public sports amenities, including golf, tennis and cycling.

Subject to following social distancing guidelines, people in England are allowed to go outside to exercise as often as they wish.

People in England are allowed to travel by car to places they wish to take exercise, without any restrictions on distance. They should not, however, cross the border into Scotland or Wales, where people are required to stay within their local area.

There have been concerns raised that the English move could prompt a flood of visitors to beauty spots such as the Scottish Borders, or Snowdonia, which saw its busiest visitor day in history on the weekend before UK lockdown plans were implemented. People are not allowed to stay in another home (including their second home) for a holiday, and hotels will remain closed except for essential workers. However, after seven weeks of not travelling and good weather on the horizon, the temptation to travel hundreds of miles in a day may be significant.

There have also been concerns raised by residents of English holiday destinations. While numbers of coronavirus cases are dropping in cities such as London and Birmingham, they remain higher than those in rural areas and there have been fears of a spike in areas which to date have had relatively low levels of infection.

Patient picks for COVID-19

Chest and lungs

What are the benefits of mixing and matching COVID-19 booster vaccines?

With cases of COVID-19 rising in the UK, people who are eligible are being urged to get their booster vaccines. Some people may receive a different vaccine from the one they had for their previous jabs. But is this safe - and are there any advantages to mixing and matching vaccines?

by Lydia Smith

Chest and lungs

Long COVID

Most people with COVID-19 infection (SARS CoV-2 infection) feel better within a few days or weeks and recover completely within 12 weeks of the infection. However, some people have ongoing symptoms that remain for weeks, months, or longer, which is usually called "long COVID". For some, these long-term effects of COVID-19 can be debilitating. These effects can be very different from person to person, and it seems likely that there are different 'types' of long COVID, or different syndromes, which might behave in different ways.

by Dr Doug McKechnie, MRCGP

Working outside the home

For Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, rules have not changed. People should work from home if they can and should only work outside the home if they are key workers in the healthcare or other sectors. Businesses should be open only if what they do is essential to the effort of tackling the virus or the well-being of society.

In Scotland, some businesses in the construction sector can continue to work, subject to strict social distancing and other guidance.

In England, by contrast, people are being encouraged to go back to work if their work can only be done in the workplace. Sectors set to reopen or expand their output include food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research in laboratories.

The reopening does not include non-essential retail, hairdressers, restaurants, pubs, bars, gyms and leisure centres. These will remain closed but may begin to open gradually as part of the third phase of relaxation in England, at some point after 4th July.

There have already been concerns raised about pressure being put on people to return to what they consider unsafe working environments. The Health and Safety Executive has warned of strict penalties for companies flouting the rules and encourages workers to inform them if they cannot reach a resolution with their employers.

Face masks

Scotland started recommending the use of face coverings in certain indoor situations a week before Northern Ireland and two weeks before England. They are not recommended in Wales.

There is a risk that if face coverings are not used, put on and removed properly, they could increase your risk through contamination.

Garden centres

Garden centres in England and Wales are now allowed to reopen. No changes have been made to regulations on garden centres in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

However, they will be part of the first phase of changes in Northern Ireland and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has suggested she may make an an announcement about garden centres within the next week.