Published Date: Dec 1st, 2020
The lead-up to the festive season is going to feel different for us all this year. Fife Council is urging people to spend safely locally by using face coverings, keeping hands clean and physically distancing.
New signage is going up across Fife’s town centres and a campaign is underway promoting social distancing - #2metresis - to help keep communities safe and create a safe shopping experience for us all.
Shopping is one of the best ways we can help our local economy, local jobs, and our communities. Fife is incredibly fortunate to have quality retail offers locally.
Fife’s towns and villages provide a great range of shops and services and they have adapted to keep serving local people and providing essential services.
Cllr Altany Craik, Fife Council's Convener, Economy, Tourism, Strategic Planning & Transportation Committee, said: “Fife Council is encouraging people to stay safe and spend locally. I encourage everyone in Fife to back their local retailers and traders this Christmas and spend their money locally. Businesses and Fife Council are actioning plans to keep shoppers and visitors safe – with queuing outside and the potential for businesses to use outdoor space. This is the most crucial period of the year for local businesses and we can all back them by staying local, spending local, and supporting our small businesses.”
Lucy Denvir, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Fife, said: “Public safety and reducing the transmission rate of Coronavirus is our priority. Fife remains in Level 3 of the Scottish Government’s national restrictions, reflecting the transmission rate across Fife. To avoid moving into Level 4 we cannot be complacent.
"It is vital that everyone continues to play their part to keep our communities safe and reduce Covid-19 transmission. This means sticking to FACTS:
Face coverings in enclosed spaces
Avoid crowded places
Clean your hands and surfaces regularly
Two-metre social distancing
Self-isolate and book a test if you develop coronavirus symptoms, however mild they are.
"Although there is less risk outside, there are still risks. This means people must always maintain a 2-metre distance - including when walking around town or queuing to get into shops.
“Adaptations in and around Fife's towns and villages are helping to ensure that people can safely move around town, maintain a safe social distance, and adhere to the Level 3 restrictions.”
John Mitchell, Service Manager, Sustainable Transport & Parking, Fife Council, added: “Temporary measures are in place in some of Fife's towns and villages to help keep everyone safe and create more space for people to walk, cycle and wheel. By promoting physical distancing – and the two-metre rule - we’re helping people to spend safely locally and helping to prevent COVID-19 transmission. We’re supporting the NHS to help local people stay safe, protect others and save lives by making it safer for people to travel in and around Fife towns.”
When travelling to and from town centres please:
- Walk, cycle or wheel to the high street rather than use public transport, where possible. This frees up space on public transport and helps travellers with physical distancing.
- Keep your distance, protect yourself and others.
- If using public transport to visit high streets, please remember that you will need a face mask.