Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that all council areas across Scotland will be placed at Level 0 of lockdown restrictions from Monday.
But the First Minister warned there would be "certain modifications" to the government's previously published route map due to high case numbers.
Pubs and restaurants will be expected to close by midnight - earlier than anticipated - and Scots should continue to work from home where possible, delaying the move back into offices.
The First Minister made the announcement to MSPs at a virtual meeting of the Scottish Parliament today, where she said mandatory use of face coverings was likely to remain for "some time to come".
Under previously published government plans, the country will be placed at Level 0 from July 19 and will aim - although it has not yet been confirmed - to abolish all remaining emergency legal restrictions from August 9.
That means Scotland is easing lockdown at a slower place than in England - where almost all lockdown restrictions will be lifted next week.
But Sturgeon ruled out following Boris Johnson's example.
She said: "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. It would risk the imposition of shielding by default."
The announcement means 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.
Under the new rules, 15 people from 15 households will be able to meet outdoors.
Hospitality businesses will be able to open until midnight, according to the new restrictions, with soft play centres in areas moving from Level 2 also able to open.
Mass stadium events will also be able to admit more people, with 2,000 seated patrons and 1,000 standing.
Indoor events will be limited to 400 people.
On homeworking, Sturgeon said the “gradual return” planned for when Scotland moves to Level 0 would be pushed back until all the country moves beyond Level 0 – hoped to be on August 9.
She said: “Until then, we will continue to ask employers to support home working where possible.
“I know this will be disappointing for many businesses – and also some employees who are finding home-working hard.
“But this will reduce the extent to which people are meeting up in enclosed environments or travelling together, and so will help to contain transmission during this phase.”
Do you think Scotland should move to Level 0 on Monday? Join the conversation in the comments section.
In a veiled attack on Tory ministers at Westminster, Sturgeon said government should “take the flak” from people who disagree with covid restrictions if they believe they are for the best.
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have said face masks will not be mandatory and instead their wearing will be dependent on individual choice.
But Sturgeon has said coverings in public places will be mandatory in Scotland “for some time to come”.
She added: “It is my view that if government believes measures like this matter – and we do – we should say so, do what is necessary to ensure compliance, and take any resulting flak from those who disagree.
“We shouldn’t lift important restrictions to make our lives easier and then expect the public to take responsibility for doing the right thing anyway.”
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