Friends and family will be able to gather indoors from next week with lockdown restrictions on social distancing to ease for the first time in months.
During Tuesday's coronavirus briefing, Nicola Sturgeon admitted she felt 'emotional' as she announced that people could now hug each other from Monday, May 17.
People have not been able to mix indoors since Christmas when the country was plunged into a nationwide lockdown with a 'stay at home' order.
Due to falling virus cases, the First Minister was able to accelerate the routemap out of lockdown, allowing more people to meet in a private house than was previously planned.
During the update, 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."
From next week, mainland Scotland will move to lockdown Level 2, meaning rules on indoor gatherings, pubs and travel will ease.
Scottish island communities will move to level 1 restrictions, while Moray - which has a higher level of cases - will remain at Level 3.
How many people can meet indoors?
With cases having declined, the Scottish Government is able to allow more people to mix indoors than was previously outlined.
Under new lockdown Level 2 restrictions, up to six people from three households can meet in a private dwelling such as a house.
Level 2 restrictions previously allowed six people from three households instead of eight.
Overnight stays were also given the green light, with physical distancing no longer necessary allowing friends and family to hug each other.
Eight people from eight households will be allowed to meet outdoors.
Hugging friends and family
Social distancing rules will also be relaxed in private residences - meaning families can hug loved ones for the first time this year.
Nicola Sturgeon was 'emotional' as she announced that it will no longer be necessary to maintain physical distance when meeting indoors.
However, people can only hug each other in private dwelling such as a house or garden.
The Scottish Government is expected to do a wider review of what is allowed in public indoor settings, such as pubs and restaurants.
The First Minister urged people to be careful over who they choose to have physical contact with - and hugging loved ones who are vulnerable 'still carries risk'.
