Scotland is set to close all major road construction and work sites except for essential maintenance to fix defects.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke in the Parliament chamber today confirming the devolved nation's push for stricter measures on constructions sites that in England.
A Transport Scotland spokesman also confirmed that as construction sites close 'this includes everything apart from essential road maintenance works to fix defects'.
Ms Sturgeon said to MSPs: 'We have been asked specifically about construction sites in Scotland. Our current advice, on the basis of the precautionary principle, is that we expect them to be closed, unless the building that is being worked on is essential, such as a hospital.'
However, she did suggest that the new guidance could be released that would allow some sites, where social distancing was possible, to reopen.
'We have undertaken to look at whether guidance can be put in place for the safe operation of construction sites, taking all the social distancing advice into account,' she said.
'If we think that that can be done, of course, we will share that and amend the position if we think it appropriate. We will continue to be as consistent as possible, taking account of those operational differences.'
In other aspects, Scotland has much the same restrictions as the rest of the UK.
Ms Sturgeon said that 'in effect, Scotland is now in lockdown'.
'The only permissible reasons for people leaving their homes are: to shop for basic necessities, but only once a day, at the most; to take exercise – again, that should be done no more than once a day—which people should do alone or with their household, not in groups; for personal medical reasons or to provide care to or support for a vulnerable person; or to travel to essential work, if that work absolutely cannot be done from home.'
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