Hospital visits to non-Covid wards in Scotland are to resume from July 13, the Scottish Government has announced.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman made the announcement at the Scottish Government's daily Covid-19 briefing in Edinburgh this afternoon.
The phased restarting of hospital visits applies only to non-Covid areas of hospitals, with Covid-19 areas remaining restricted to essential visitors only.
The Health Secretary confirmed that strict new rules will be in place - with only one pre-agreed visitor wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing allowed to visit.
"This is to ensure the right number of people are in any clinical area at any one time," the Health Secretary said.
Visitors must provide their contact details to hospital staff for contact-trace purposes, and wear a face covering all through their visit, while also practising safe hygiene.
Any visitor who may have any coronavirus symptoms is asked not to visit the hospital,while they should also not bring any food parcels, flowers or balloons with them.
