Edinburgh is set to move into level 0 Covid restrictions on Monday, bringing some big changes to hospitality in the city.
Most notably, people will no longer need to pre-book a two-hour slot if they want to sit in at a pub or restaurant - though will still be expected to provide their contact details for the Test & Protect program.
However, there will remain some restrictions in place that were not previously in place for level 0 as Nicola Sturgeon stated hospitality "remains a relatively risky environment".
These include a midnight curfew on all hospitality venues and the continuation of distancing, which was expected to end with the new rules.
Although distancing rules remain, the minimum required distance people from different households need to keep from each other has been reduced from two metres to one metre.
There had previously been speculation that Sturgeon would scrap the move into level 0 altogether amid rising cases across the country.
She told parliament: "Hospitality venues in level 0 - in all parts of Scotland - will require to close at midnight.
"This is a change to what we had previously indicated for level 0 - that venues should follow local licensing rules."
"This reflects the fact that indoor hospitality - despite the sector’s sterling efforts - remains a relatively risky environment, particularly later at night when people may be less likely to follow rules."
"A midnight closing time represents progress from level 1 and 2 but it will still help mitigate some of this risk."
"The second modification is to physical distancing.
"Let me be clear, what I am about to set out applies to public places."
Nicola Sturgeon also confirmed that, where there isn’t already a 1m rule in place in indoor public places, the physical distance requirement will reduce from 2m to 1m and will apply between different household groups.
In level 0, up to 10 people from up to four households can from Monday meet in a public indoor space, such as a pub or restaurant.
