Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed some lockdown restrictions in Scotland will be eased this weekend.
The First Minister told MSPs that up to four adults from two households would legally be able to meet outdoors as of this Friday.
Meetings will be possible in gardens and parks, but people should only go indoors if it is essential to reach a back garden or to use a toilet.
It comes as the average daily number of covid cases has dropped to 490, down from 657 last week. Almost 40 per cent of the adult population in Scotland has also received a first dose of a vaccine.
The First Minister added she hoped to ease travel restrictions in the weeks ahead but for now they remained in place.
But Sturgeon revealed the rules on travelling would be eased slightly for children taking part in sport where their club may be "a bit outside" their council area.
Outdoor, non-contact sports for adults in groups of up to 15 will also be able to start again from Friday, Sturgeon said.
She told MSPs: “If the data allows us to relax more restrictions more quickly than we have previously indicated, we will not hesitate to do so.
“I’m well aware of just how difficult continued restrictions are – and I know that they get harder rather than easier to bear, as time goes on.
“I also know – because I feel this too – that the progress on vaccination makes us even more impatient to reach the end of this ordeal as quickly as possible.
“But I am certain that easing restrictions too quickly would be a mistake that we would regret.”
The Scottish Government intends to reopen places of worship with attendance limits increased from 20 to 50, where there is space for social distancing, on Friday 26 March.
A final decision will be taken on March 23 ahead of Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.
Young people aged 12 to 17 will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to four people from four different households, participate in outdoor non-contact sports, and other organised activities in groups of up to 15.
