STIRLING residents are facing weeks of a nationwide lockdown as new safety measures come into force today. 

Last night, both the UK and Scottish governments announced the country is "effectively" now in a lockdown. 

Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson were united in their message to the public: "Stay home." 

Last week, Scottish schools were closed and pubs were advised to shut their doors on Friday.

Most licensed premises have responded positively, though there have been reports of some venues staying open.

There was also instances of mass gatherings continuing across the UK, with government taking further action on Monday evening.

The first minister said: "Let me blunt. The stringent restrictions on our normal day to day lives that I'm about to set out are difficult and they are unprecedented. They amount, effectively, to what has been described as a lockdown.

"I am not going to sugarcoat it in any way - coronavirus is the biggest challenge of our lifetime.

"Stay at home," she added. "That is the message I gave yesterday and I am reinforcing that message now."

These new restrictions will be in place for at least three weeks, with provisions to extend.

From now on, Stirling residents are being told to stay home except for:-

  • Essential shopping - for food or medicines and only once a day
  • Exercise - only once a day and alone, or with someone from your household
  • Medical reasons or for the care of vulnerable people
  • Travel to and from essential work - all employers should be making provision to work from home

All non-essential shops - those which do not sell food or medicines - will close.

Gatherings of more than two people are prohibited, unless done so for necessary work or if those gathering are part of the same household.

All social events - weddings, birthdays and christenings - should not take place. Funerals will be restricted to immediate family only.

Libraries and other communal spaces within parks must close.  

Police will for the time being simply urge behaviour change to those breach these instructions with more formal enforcement powers expected in the near future.