Households can start mixing with one other group indoors across the western and northern isles of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon announced today.
The First Minister said the level-one zones have shown progress and have only “sporadic” cases of coronavirus.
However, level-one areas including Moray and Highland will not be able to enjoy the slight return to normality until rates come down.
Sturgeon revealed the new rule in her first weekly review of Scotland’s five-tier alert system.
She said Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles will remain at level one but added: "From Friday, residents of those three island authorities will be able to meet with one other household inside their homes, up to a strict maximum of six people."
Sturgeon, speaking at the Scottish Parliament, continued: "We are able to make this change because case numbers in these island authorities are very low and sporadic, and we recognise that the social isolation caused by such a restriction is often exacerbated in island communities where there are not as many public places to meet.
"However - and this is an important caveat - importation of the virus is a real risk to the islands. For that reason, we will be issuing clear guidance advising anyone who goes to or returns to the islands from the mainland to avoid in-house mixing for a period after their return."
Sturgeon said the other level one areas will have to stay with existing restrictions, first imposed last week.
She added: "Although cases in these areas remain relatively low, we have seen some volatility in recent days.
"So to people living across the Highlands and in Moray, as for people in the rest of the country, we continue to ask that you do not visit each other’s homes - except for essential purposes, such as childcare, looking after a vulnerable person or being part of an extended household.
"I know this is tough but it remains the single most effective way of preventing transmission of the virus from one household to another."
