Scots will this week enjoy the biggest easing of restrictions since lockdown was enforced.
Indoor working in factories and warehouses will resume from today, as will shopping in most retail outlets.
People wanting to move home will also benefit from a relaxation of the curbs on the housing market.
And next Monday will be another symbolic day when beer gardens and outdoor restaurants welcome customers back.
These vital steps were only made possible by the sacrifices made by Scots.
As Government adviser Devi Sridhar made clear yesterday, Scotland could become Covid-free by the end of the summer if we continue to make progress.
If we abide by the rules, and infection levels keep falling, we can expect further restrictions to be lifted.
July is shaping up to be a crucial month and will likely determine our future path.
The big prize would be a return to full-time schooling in August – a policy that would help parents go back to work.
International examples, such as Germany, show the dangers of believing the disease is on the way out.
It was also reported yesterday that a second lockdown could be imposed on Leicester due to a coronavirus outbreak.
Freedoms are gradually being restored but we still need to guard against complacency and follow public health guidance.
LGBT risk factor
Carer Criz McCormick has bravely come forward today to tell the story of how he ended up becoming a sex worker.
Criz, who is gay, said he was in a relationship with a partner who manipulated him from the beginning.
He said he found himself having to sell his body to pay for his then boyfriend’s drug habit.
Criz’s story coincides with a new campaign to raise awareness of the higher risks the LGBT community face from alcohol and drugs.
Run by Glasgow LGBTQI Substance Use Partnership, the group believes substance misuse has been “flying under the radar for a long time”.
The experience of Criz, who has now found happiness, shows the importance of this vital campaign.
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