Wearing a mask in shops is to become mandatory from 10 July but the two-metre distancing rule will be relaxed in pubs, Nicola Sturgeon announced at her daily briefing today.
During the Scottish Government's daily coronavirus briefing, the First Minister said hospitality businesses and shops will be allowed a one-metre rule instead. Beer gardens and pavement cafes will be permitted to open from 6 July.
Despite that, the Scottish Government issued a document which stated: "The fundamental science around distance and transmission remains unchanged. Risk increases with proximity to an infected individual. Moving from 2 metres therefore increases the risk of transmission from infected individuals occurring."
The new guidance for pubs and cafes will be on condition that mitigation measures such as improved ventilation and Perspex screens are in place.
Sturgeon also suggested businesses may be asked to collect the names and addresses of customers "to help with contact tracing when that is necessary".
The two-metre distancing rule can also be reduced in the retail sectors and on public transport.
But the general rule will be that businesses must take reasonable measures to ensure two-metre distancing is maintained, she said.
Sturgeon said the mask change was needed in shops "because we usually don't know the people we have been in contact with" and that it "provides an additional layer of protection".
On 3 July, self contained holiday accommodation, such as cottages and lodges, can reopen, it was confirmed. From the same date, the five-mile restriction on travelling for leisure is to be lifted - apart from in the south-west of Scotland where there has been a spike in new cases in Gretna and Annan.
Care homes with south-west postcodes will not be permitted to accept visitors at weekends.
