Festive ‘bubbles’ & travel off-island

Festive period

The safest way to spend Christmas and the festive period is to stay within your own household, in your own home and your own local area.

Whilst the Scottish Government is providing guidance on how people can spend Christmas time with others to help prevent loneliness and isolation, advice remains that, wherever possible, you should keep in touch with friends and family members from other households through technology.

If you decide to meet in person, you should minimise the numbers and duration, and if possible meet outdoors. Consider a Christmas walk with family, rather than a meal indoors.

Currently the Scottish Government is providing advice on how to spend Christmas with other people, should you consider that necessary for your own personal circumstances. It does not mean you have to do it, and you should not feel pressured to spend Christmas in or with another household.

Over several months, we have all made sacrifices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe. Now that effective vaccines are on the horizon, and the hope of a return to more normality by next spring is growing, we must all consider carefully the risk that is associated with lowering our guard and coming together for Christmas. The virus won’t be taking a holiday and will take the opportunity to spread and cause harm where it can.

What rules will change and for how long?

During the period 23rd December to 27th December inclusive, there will be a limited relaxation of the COVID-19 rules to allow people to travel within the UK to spend Christmas together, in ‘bubbles’ of up to three households if they wish. The rules about what a bubble is and what it means for you and your household are below.

This is being done not to encourage people to mix with other households, but because the Scottish Government recognises that isolation and loneliness is something that individuals and families have had to cope with and can hit people particularly hard over the Christmas period and that some may therefore feel it necessary to do so.

What is a bubble?

Between 23rd – 27th December, you can form a bubble of up to three households, one of which can be an extended household. However, it is recommended that you keep any bubble to a maximum of 8 people.

Children under the age of 12 from these households need not count towards the total number of people counted in the bubble. Children under 12 do not need to maintain physical distance from others.

You should keep the numbers within a bubble as low as possible and minimise the duration of contact between different households as much as possible.

You should not change the members in your bubble once it has been formed.

If anyone in the bubble contracts Covid-19, all members of the bubble will be required to isolate for 10 days.

What do I need to do before forming a bubble?

You should limit your social contact with others as far as you can before and after forming a bubble to minimise transmission risks and to protect your loved ones.

Should my household ‘bubble’ with another household over Christmas?

It is important to stress that using this temporary relaxation of rules is a personal decision and individuals and households must consider carefully the risks to them, their families and others of increasing social contact.

The virus won’t take Christmas off. If we provide it with any opportunities to spread from household to household, it is likely to take them.

Regardless of the temporary relaxation set out above, if you are currently isolating as a close contact, or if you have had a positive test and have not completed your isolation period, you should not mix with others outside your immediate household. If you have Covid symptoms you should isolate and immediately request a test.

There are older or vulnerable people in my household – does this apply to us?

If your household, or the people you would meet in a bubble, consists of elderly people or people who are clinically at risk, it is particularly important that you consider the risks, and you may wish to avoid mixing to reduce the risk of passing on the virus – particularly if your ‘bubble’ would mean younger people, particularly young adults, mixing with older people.

Travel from the Western Isles to an area with high prevalence of the virus also carries significant additional risk of transmission, which may make it safer to stay at home.

Remember under the normal rules, you can already provide care to someone in their home, without forming a bubble.

You should consider all of these factors before deciding how to spend Christmas.

If you do decide to spend Christmas with family and friends, what follows is guidance to help you to minimise the risk and stay as safe as possible. However, this guidance will not eradicate the risk.

I have previously been advised to shield, can I form a bubble?

If you or someone in your family have been informed that you are at highest clinical risk from Covid-19 you should take time to think about what being a bubble means for you. Being part of a bubble would involve greater risks for you as you would be increasing the number of people you have contact with. It is important that you do not feel pressured to celebrate the festive season in an environment that makes you anxious.

Everyone in the bubble should agree what steps to take in the run up to the festive period, and during the festive bubble period, that will keep those at highest clinical risk safe. See: https://www.mygov.scot/covid-festive-bubbles-shielding/

Do we have to maintain a 2 metre distance if we form a bubble?

You should remain 2 metres away from people outside of your household as much as possible. The closer you are to other people the more chance the virus will have to transmit between you.

Where can a bubble meet?

Bubbles can only gather in a private home (to meet or stay the night), outdoors or at a place of worship.

If meeting in a home you should remember to follow FACTS as much as possible. You should wash hands and surfaces, and ensure there is a window or door open as good ventilation can help to disperse the virus.

In all other settings, such as hospitality, leisure or entertainment venues (indoors and outdoors), those who have formed a bubble should remain within their own household and not mix with others.

I don’t want to form a bubble, what rules apply to me?

A person or household who decides not to form a bubble in the Western Isles should continue to follow Protection Level 1 rules. In summary, with regard to travel, this means that staff should:

• minimise unnecessary journeys between areas in different levels
• avoid any unnecessary travel to places in Level 3 or Level 4 areas
• if you must travel for essential purposes, you must follow the guidance on travelling safely contained on the above website.

I’m in an extended household, do I have to form a bubble?

No one has to form a bubble. An extended household can meet in line with the normal rules as just one household.

If you do want to form a bubble, extended households count as one of the three households, but we recommend that there should be no more than 8 people who are age 12 and over in the bubble. There should be no more than one extended household per bubble.

Can children go between households if parents live apart?

Where parents do not live in the same household, children can move between their parents’ homes in different bubbles, and this includes both supervised and unsupervised visitation.

Do students coming home count as different households?

Students who have returned home at the end of term form part of the household they have returned to. All students are being offered testing before returning home.

I live in a shared flat, are we one household or can we go to different bubbles?

People (other than students) who live in a shared flat or house are considered a household and the strong advice is that households should not split up and enter separate bubbles over the festive period. If you do join different bubbles you should isolate from your flatmates both before and after joining your bubble for around a week.

I provide care to someone, can I still support them?

You can still go into another household, which is not part of your bubble, to provide care and support for a vulnerable person.

If I form a bubble, can I continue to visit people in hospital, hospice or a care home?

Forming a bubble increases the risk that you will be exposed to Covid-19 and could pass it on to other people.

People in care homes, hospitals and hospices can be particularly vulnerable.

The safest way to spend Christmas if you want to visit someone in a care home, hospital or hospice would be to stay within your own household and not form a bubble with any other household.

If someone in the bubble develops Covid-19 symptoms what should I do?

If someone in your bubble develops COVID-19 symptoms, to avoid spreading the virus all members of the bubble must isolate immediately if they met the symptomatic person at any time between 2 days before and up to 10 days after their symptoms started.

If the symptomatic person tests positive, all members of the bubble must isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or from when the most recent contact took place. Isolate means staying in your own home or the home you are staying in for the full 10 days.

What measures can I take to reduce the risk of spreading the virus?

It is easier to catch and spread the virus in an indoor space, especially if there is little, or no, flow of fresh air. Therefore, when meeting your bubble you should take these measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus:

• let in as much fresh air as you can both during and after a visit
• wherever possible keep 2m away from people not in your usual household
• wash your hands frequently
• clean touch points regularly, such as door handles and surfaces
• avoid sharing cutlery or crockery if possible

What are the travel rules over Christmas?

Travel restrictions will be relaxed from 23 – 27 December (inclusive) to allow people to travel between local authority areas and the four nations of the UK to join their bubble.

If using public transport you should make a plan in advance and book ahead where possible. You must also wear a face covering during travel on public transport, unless exempt.

Those travelling to or from the Scottish Islands should do so within the 5-day period, 23 – 27 December.

While travelling you should minimise stop-offs during journeys except where necessary for safety and respite, and follow the Scottish Government’s guidance on travelling safely. Visit: https://www.transport.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/transport-transition-plan/advice-on-how-to-travel-safely/

If you travel to form a bubble, once you arrive you must follow the rules about travel that apply in that local authority area. In a Level 3 or 4 area in Scotland, for example, once you have arrived and formed your bubble you must avoid non-essential travel outside the local authority area in which you are staying. And in an area of Scotland at Level 0, 1, or 2 (including the Western Isles) you must avoid unnecessary travel into any Level 3 or 4 area. Visit: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-travel-and-transport/

What if there are travel delays or cancellations meaning I cannot return home on 27th December? (for NHS staff)

You should return home by the 27th. In some cases where there is an overnight journey, you should start that journey on the 27th. The only exception to this is where you are delayed as a result of travel disruption or ill-health, including self-isolating following a positive COVID-19 test or as a contact of someone who has had a positive test.

Can my bubble stay in tourist accommodation, such as hotels, B&Bs and self-catering?

During the Christmas period those who are part of a bubble should not stay in tourist accommodation. Only those not part of a bubble should plan on staying in tourist accommodation and should follow the tourist accommodation, socialising and travel rules in the area you are staying in. For example:

• you should only stay with your own household (or extended household) in self-catering accommodation
• you must not travel into or out of a level 3 or 4 area for tourist accommodation

If I have formed a bubble can we go to hospitality?

Those who have formed a bubble should only socialise in a hospitality, leisure or entertainment venue in your own household (or extended household) for the duration of the festive period.

If I have formed a bubble can we go to worship together?

Whilst bubbles are permitted to gather in a place of worship during the Christmas period, places of worship are required to take measures to protect individuals, worshippers, staff members and volunteers from infection by COVID-19. Indoor acts of worship are limited to a maximum of 50 people in levels 0 – 3 and 20 in level 4 providing there is sufficient space to maintain 2 metre distancing. Where that is not possible capacity will be reduced.

Can I go to the shops with my bubble?

No.
Retail premises could be busier than normal in the days leading up to Christmas. You should try to avoid times when shops will be busy. Where possible you should shop on your own, or only with children or those who need support, shop local, and use Click and Collect or Delivery services.

Do I need to self isolate or take any special measures if I return to the Western Isles from a mainland area after the festive period?

Anyone who has travelled outwith the Western Isles for non-essential purposes in the preceding 14 days should limit their contact with other island residents and should not meet with another household in a private home for a 14-day period from the date of their arrival back in the Western Isles.

Limiting social contact is not the same as self isolation. Staff who have been part of a ‘bubble’ on the mainland and have returned from the mainland on or before the 27th December should be extra vigilant in terms of precautions. However, they do not require to stay off work unless they (or a member of their household or ‘bubble’) has developed any symptoms (in which case they – and any others within the ‘bubble’ should immediately self isolate and book a test).

What if I (or a member of my bubble) develop symptoms whilst off island?

You and all members of your bubble must isolate where you are and the individual with symptoms must book a test. You must not travel or use public transport until the test results are received back.

If the test results are positive for COVID-19, the symptomatic individual must self isolate for 10 days and the other members of the bubble must self isolate for 10 days. No members of the bubble should travel, use public transport or return home to the Western Isles for this period.

Please bear the above eventuality in mind if you decide to travel to become part of a bubble over the festive period. You may wish to ensure you make the necessary provision based on the fact that there is a risk that you/a member of your bubble may develop symptoms whilst you are away.

How do I book a test in the Western Isles if I develop symptoms?

To access testing in the Western Isles, contact the COVID-19 Response Team on 01851 601151 or email: wi.covid19queries@nhs.scot
The phoneline will be staffed from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday with an answering machine available outwith those hours.

Alternatively you can complete the online COVID-19 Testing Programme Referral Form (NHS Western Isles).

You can also visit the Outer Hebrides Coronavirus website at: www.coronavirus.wi.nhs.scot