Nicola Sturgeon today announced that Scotland’s so-called “Freedom Day” can go ahead as of next week.
From Monday, August 9, the majority of legal Covid restrictions will be lifted - paving the way for the reopening of nightclubs and the resumption of larger gatherings.
But the First Minister was quick to hit back at the notion of full ‘freedom’ from the virus as a number of restrictions will still remain in place.
Scots will still be legally required to wear face coverings in a number of indoor settings, while measures such as contact tracing will remain in place.
Sturgeon said that the raft of the changes have been made possible due to a steady decline in cases, the success of the vaccination programme and a weakening of the links between infections and serious illness.
Speaking earlier today, the First Minister said: “This change is significant and hard-earned. The sacrifices everyone has made over the past year and a half can never be overstated.
"However, while this move will restore a substantial degree of normality, it is important to be clear that it does not signal the end of the pandemic or a return to life exactly as we knew it before Covid struck.
"Declaring freedom from, or victory over, this virus is premature.
"The harm the virus can do, including through the impact of long Covid, should not be underestimated. And its ability to mutate may yet pose us real challenges.
"So even as we make this move today, care and caution will still be required, and that is why I want to focus now on the protections and guidance that will remain in place after August 9.”
Here is a list of the key dates as Scotland continues to recover from the Covid pandemic.
August 4/5
An announcement on the Scottish Government’s three-weekly review on its traffic light system for international travel is expected to be heard on either of these days.
August 9
Most legal Covid restrictions will be removed in what many have dubbed as ‘Freedom Day’. Nicola Sturgeon has referred to August 9 as “beyond level zero”.
Physical distancing requirements and limits on social gatherings will be axed.
No venues will be legally required to close - including nightclubs.
Organisers of outdoor events of more than 5,000 people and indoor events of more than 2,000 will have to apply for permission.
Fully vaccinated Scots who have been identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for Covid will be able to avoid self-isolation if they test negative for the virus through a PCR test.
Contact tracing and current measures on face coverings will remain in place. Pupils will be required to wear coverings in classrooms.
September
All Scots adults are expected to have been fully vaccinated by the middle of September.
A vaccine passport app for international travel is expected to be launched by the Scottish Government. Sturgeon indicated that it could be rolled out for use at “higher risk venues” in Scotland.
Rollout of the booster vaccination programme expected to begin.
