Scots will be reunited with their mums for the first time in almost three months for Mother’s Day after Nicola Sturgeon announced changes to rules on outdoor meetings during lockdown.
The First Minister confirmed that four adults from two households will be able to meet outdoors for social and recreation purposes from Friday.
Outdoor meetings will be able to take place in private gardens, parks or any other public places under the new rules.
Previously only two people from two households could meet outdoors for essential purposes only - such as exercise.
This means that a number of Scots adults will be able to spend time with their mum for the first time since strict lockdown measures were imposed in Boxing Day last year.
People will only be allowed to go indoors for essential reasons - such as entering a back garden or using the loo.
Two-metre rules on social distancing will apply to outdoor meets.
But those hoping to meet their mum in a different council area will have to wait that little bit longer.
Sturgeon said that it currently remains ‘unsafe’ to consider lifting current travel restrictions but hopes to ease them in the coming weeks.
It is currently illegal for Scots to cross local authority borders while the country stays in level four lockdown.
Rules on non-contact sports for adults and outdoor gatherings for teenagers will also come into effect from Friday.
A maximum of 15 adults can meet for organised exercise outside while four teens from different households can meet in public areas.
It was also announced that communal worship can restart from March 26 with up to 50 people allowed at services, providing that there is space for social distancing.
Speaking at Holyrood today, Nicola Sturgeon said that the progress made in the fight against the virus so far was ‘very encouraging’ but added that Scotland must remain cautious.
She said: “Even though we are firmly heading in the right direction right now and I firmly believe we are, we cannot afford to take our foot off the brake too soon.
“We still need to keep the virus under control if our hopes for a much more normal summer are not to suffer a setback.
“We do of course intend to ease restrictions as soon as we safely can - and we will do it quicker than previously anticipated if that proves to be possible.”
