Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that some of covid restrictions still in place will be removed from Monday.
Physical distancing requirements and limits on gatherings will be axed as Scotland enjoys so-called Freedom Day on August 9th.
In a Holyrood statement, she said the country will move beyond the current level 0 restrictions.
No venues will be legally required to close from August 9th.
Sturgeon said the restrictions could be lifted due to a steady decline in cases, the success of the vaccination programme and a weakening of the links between infections and serious illness.
However, she added that as part of a "cautious" approach a number of mitigations will remain in place.
She also warned that a “substantial degree of normality” did not spell the end of the pandemic.
Continuing protections include requiring face coverings to be worn in all the same indoor settings as is the case now.
Test & Protect will continue to contact-trace positive cases and there will be an ongoing requirement for indoor hospitality to collect the contact details of customers.
She also confirmed the Government will continue to advise home working where possible “for now”.
On large scale events, she said for a limited period organisers of outdoor events of more than 5000 and indoor events of more than 2000 will have to apply for permission.
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