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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Carla Jenkins

Scotland covid rules: Nicola Sturgeon confirms July 19 changes including pubs open until midnight

The First Minister has confirmed that the whole country will move to Level 0 from July 19 - but with modifications to the original level plan.

Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement to the Scottish Parliament, which had been recalled from the summer recess.

Changes include social distancing, a hospitality curfew and permitting less people to weddings than originally planned.

Quarantining for the double-jabbed when returning from countries on the amber list will also be removed.

Sturgeon said: "I will emphasise that this is a time for continued caution - for government to take the dough decisions necessary to help safeguard the health and wellbeing of the country.

Follow the First Minister’s Level 0 announcement as it happens on our covid live blog

"So while Scotland will move to level 0 from next Monday, we will do so with certain modifications to our indicative plans.

"Lifting all restrictions and mitigations right now would put all of us at greater risk - but in particular it would make it much more difficult for the most clinically vulnerable to go about their normal lives."

There will be no requirement to physical distance outdoors within a social grouping of 15 people, but a requirement to maintain one metre from all others.

One metre physical distancing will be required in all indoor public settings, including within social groupings of 10 people from four households.

Face masks will remain mandatory on public transport and other settings, unless for a medical exemption, "for some time to come" said Sturgeon.

She added: "Measures like the continued wearing of face coverings are important, not just to give added protection to the population as a whole, but also to give protection and assurance to those amongst us who are particularly vulnerable and previously had to shield."

Gatherings in outdoor public places will be restricted to 15 people.

Permitting up to 200 people to gather to mark a life event other than weddings and funerals will be delayed until the 'gateway condition' is met.

Hospitality trading times will be revised from 4am to midnight, and nightclubs and adult entertainment will have to remain shut. Walk-ins are now available but test and protect remains in place.

There will be a staged return to workplaces, which will also be delayed until 'gateway condition' is met.

You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, and anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2.

Up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals. Soft play centres can open.

By July 19, all Scottish adults will have been offered their first vaccine dose as well as being three weeks on from over-50s being double jabbed.

There were a total of 2,529 cases of covid reported today, 11.5% of the tests taken, and four new deaths of those positive.

41 people are in intensive care, and 506 are in hospital.

3,941,571 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 2,903,557 have received their second dose.

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