Major relaxation of Covid restrictions as social distancing in small groups is to be abandoned while pubs and restaurants can serve alcohol indoors and up to six people from three households can meet indoors and overnight from Monday
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed a major lifting of restrictions for the whole country from level three to level two restrictions, with the possible exception of Moray which has a higher number of Covid cases.
Announcing the measures, she said: "I actually feel a wee bit emotional saying this... from Monday, as long as you stay within permitted limits, you can hug your loved ones again.
The country will also move to a red, amber and green traffic light system when it comes to foreign travel.
Scotland moved down from level four to level three on April 26 that allowed the reopening of cafes, pubs and restaurants, gyms and non-essential shops that were still closed.
Now from Monday Under the level two restrictions the following activities will once again be permitted:
- Up to six people from three households will be able to meet in their homes and can also stay overnight
- Social distancing will also be suspended indoors so people can hug their loved ones
- Alcohol can be served indoors in pubs or restaurants and they can stay open until10.30pm
- Up to six adults from three households will be able to meet indoors in a public place
- Outdoors up to eight adults from eight different households to gather
- Adult outdoor contact sports and indoor group exercises will be able to resume
- Cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades are also likely to be able to reopen,
- Outdoor and indoor events like concerts can restart with a maximum capacity of 500 people
- Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 250 people
- Small seated indoor events are advised to operate with a maximum of 100 people
The final major change will see the country will from Monday "begin a careful move away from blanket restrictions on non-essential travel overseas."
Ms Sturgeon explained: "So from Monday, we will move to a traffic light system. This will be informed by risk assessments prepared by the joint biosecurity center and these assessments will be based on the state of the pandemic and each country across the world and that will include the presence of variants of concern.
"So if you enter Scotland from a red list country, one of the countries identified as acute risk under our current regulations, you will still be required to enter a managed isolation hotel and stay there for 10 days.
"If you arrive from a country only amber list for now that will be the majority of countries you must self isolate at home for 10 days and take two PCR tests during that period and we will also introduce a green list of countries."
