Coronavirus travel restrictions are to be eased in Scotland earlier than expected - and that means Lanarkshire locals can travel outwith the region from Friday
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement at her daily briefing on Tuesday, saying the move was aimed at helping people's mental health.
Also being brought forward is the easing of restrictions on people meeting up outdoors.
From Friday people will be allowed to meet in groups of up to six adults from six households outdoors, and will be allowed to travel across Scotland, providing they do not stay away from home overnight.
Ms Sturgeon also said significant progress was being made in the fight against coronavirus, but that caution was still required.
She said: "“The data allows us to make a change to this earlier.
"So, from Friday we will all be able to travel anywhere in Scotland for the purposes of outdoor socialising, recreation or informal exercise.
"From Friday onwards, that will change to six adults from up to six households – that’s quite a significant relaxation of that outdoor meeting limit.”
The First Minister said her government were "now extremely confident" that those parts of the country currently in Level 4 will move to Level 3 on April 26 - less than two weeks.
She added: “That means, amongst other things, on that day shops will fully reopen, pubs, cafes and restaurants will also be able to fully open outdoors on April 26 and will be able to open indoors on that date, but on a restricted basis.”
The country has been in lockdown since Boxing Day last year.
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