COUNCIL leader Shona Haslam has given her reaction to the tighter lockdown restrictions set to come into place in the Borders and the rest of mainland Scotland.

From Saturday, non-essential click and collect services will be prohibited and people will no longer be able to enter takeaways to order or collect food.

Instead, takeaways can only operate through a doorway or hatch.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Borders registers 21 cases in 24 hours

The new rules also include a hardened stance on the message to work from home – which the Scottish Government says should be the “default position” for everyone.

Drinking in public places will also be barred under the new restrictions.

Regarding the rule changes, Mrs Haslam, the leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: "These new restrictions are designed to make sure we all stay at home and reduce our contact with other people as much as possible, which is exactly what we need to do just now.

“In terms of the changes to takeaways and click and collect services, the council will work with local businesses to ensure they are aware of the new measures and that they follow this guidance.

“I thank all businesses for their co-operation and understand any frustration they may have just now, but I believe we can get through this difficult time together.”

The ‘essential’ click and collect services are listed below.

  • clothing and footwear stores
  • homeware stores
  • garden centres/plant nurseries
  • baby equipment shops
  • electrical goods (including repairs)
  • key cutting and shoe repair shops
  • bookstores

Items are to be collected outdoors only, with everyone given a timeslot to avoid queues.

Tim Patterson, NHS Borders’ director of public health, said: “Co-operation with these additional measures is really important.

“If you do not mix with people you cannot come into contact with the virus – it is as simple as that.

"If you leave your house for exercise you should remain outside only for the period of exercise; no longer. And you can only meet up with one other person from one other household who must remain two metres away from you whilst you are together.

"If the place you go to is busy then please leave and go somewhere else.”

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement of the tighter measures on Wednesday (January 13).

During her statement to parliament, the First Minister said: “The situation we face in relation to the virus remains extremely serious.

“We must continue to do everything possible to reduce case numbers – this is essential to relieve the pressure on our NHS and to save lives.

“Both individually and collectively, these additional measures – in further reducing the interactions that allow the virus to spread – will help our essential efforts to suppress it.

“At this critical and dangerous moment, please: Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.”

The new rules also include the closing of an "apparent loophole" in the wording of current guidance – stopping people leaving their home for an essential purpose and then remaining outdoors for non-essential reasons.