Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that all council areas across Scotland will be placed at Level 0 of lockdown restrictions from Monday - however the new lockdown level will have 'three modifications'.
The First Minister announced that as planned the number of people who can meet indoors will rise to eight people from four households, with ten people from four households able to meet in an indoor public place such as a pub.
However, hospitality venues in level 0 - in all parts of Scotland - will require to close at midnight. Previously it was hoped that in level 0 that venues would be able to follow local licensing rules.
Nicola Sturgeon explained: "This reflects the fact that indoor hospitality - despite the sector’s sterling efforts - remains a relatively risky environment, particularly later at night when people may be less likely to follow rules.
"A midnight closing time represents progress from level 1 and 2 but it will still help mitigate some of this risk."
The second modification laid out by the First Minister was about physical distancing in public places outdoors.
Ms Sturgeon said: "In indoor public places - as indicated previously - where there isn’t already a 1m rule in place, the physical distance requirement will reduce from 2m to 1m and will apply between different household groups.
"The main modification is in relation to outdoor public places. We had hoped to lift physical distancing outdoors completely and, by extension, remove any limit on the numbers who can gather together outdoors.
"However, for precautionary reasons at this stage, we intend to keep in place a limit on the size of outdoor group gatherings - as indicated earlier, this will be up to 15 people from up to 15 households.
"Because meeting outdoors is less risky than indoors, there will be no requirement to distance within these groups of 15. However, for the next 3 weeks at least, there will be a requirement for 1m distancing between different groups of 15."
Nicola Sturgeon added that the Economy Secretary will work with Scotland's events sector on guidance to explore how events and festivals already organised might still go ahead, with the new modifications.
The final change to level 0 announced today was in regards to working from home - and the new intention for it to continue.
Describing it as the most 'substantial' change to level 0 guidance, Nicola Sturgeon said: "We had indicated that a gradual return to the office could begin from level 0.
"However, given the current situation we intend to postpone this until we move beyond level 0 - which we still hope will be on 9 August. Until then we will continue to ask employers to support home working where possible."
You can see all of today's Covid updates on our dedicated live blog here.
