Nicola Sturgeon announced a series of rules will change in Scotland’s lockdown - with some taking effect from this Friday.
The First Minister updated MSPs on the Scottish Government’s lockdown review at Holyrood yesterday.
Sturgeon said there has been a ‘significant fall’ in new cases of coronavirus, while hospital admissions and deaths continues to decline in Scotland.
The vaccination programme is said to be progressing ‘well’ with more than 1.75m Scots now receiving their first dose of the Covid jab.
Health officials say the recent data is ‘strong grounds for hope’ - but while the First Minister gave a confident tone yesterday, she also urged Scots to continue to be cautious.
She said: “Because we have been in lockdown, it is easy to overlook the fact that the virus we are dealing with now is much more infectious than the one we were dealing with in the autumn.
“But we will be reminded of that very quickly, if we try to do too much too soon.
“And since we are prioritising the reopening of schools, our scope for lifting other restrictions - certainly in the next few weeks - is extremely limited.”
Sturgeon then went on to announce a string of ‘modest’ changes that will come into effect over the coming days and weeks.
Here is a reminder of what you will be able to do from this Friday
Social gatherings
Rules on meeting people outdoors will change for both adults and teenagers from Friday, March 12.
Four adults from two households will be able to meet outside in a private garden, park or other public place under the new rules.
Groups of up to four teens, aged between 12 and 17, from four different households will also be allowed to meet outdoors.
And the rules mean that people can meet their loved ones for social and recreational purposes - in addition to exercise.
But Scots must stay ‘as close to home as possible’ as travel restrictions currently remain in place.
It is currently illegal for people to leave their local authority area while level four lockdown rules apply across Scotland - unless it is for essential reasons.
Scots will only be allowed to enter the inside of a property for purposes such as using the loo or entering into a back garden.
Two-metre social distancing rules must be observed when meeting with another household.
Group exercise
Adults will be able to participate in outdoor non-contact sports and organised exercise with groups of up to 15 people from Friday.
People must stay within their council area for exercise under the rules.
However, teens aged between 12 and 17 can travel across local council boundaries to take part in group exercise.
.jpg?w=600)
