Scotland will begin easing lockdown from tomorrow, allowing people to meet outdoors from a distance, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
The First Minister said the country will move to phase one of her four-stage plan to loosen the curbs.
It will mean that Scots can meet people from one other household outdoors, while following social distancing, in groups of no more than eight.
Sunbathing and some non-contact sports such as fishing and golf will also be allowed again.
Ms Sturgeon said she made the move because the "prevalence of the virus is decreasing", citing the critical R rate - the reproduction rate of the virus - as being below 1 for three weeks.
The SNP leader said: "The R number remains in a range of 0.7 to 1, and we can't be certain how far below 1 it is."
She added: "We can now move into phase one, of our four-phase route map out of lockdown."
Scotland has been taking a much slower approach to relaxing lockdown restrictions compared to England.
A total of 2,316 patients have died after contracting Covid-19 in Scotland after a rise of 12 on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said this lunchtime.
She said her confidence in the move to phase one was boosted by the rollout of a contact tracing scheme in Scotland.
The Test and Protect scheme, which is distinct from the NHS England scheme that launched today, is aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.
Scots who are symptomatic will be tested and their contacts traced should they have the virus.
Announcing the easing of the rules at a press briefing in Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that “good judgment” should be used on how far to travel to meet with another household.
The First Minister added that entering someone’s home or sharing items can continue the spread of the virus.
“What I’ve announced today are important steps back to some kind of normality, I hope, but they are by necessity cautious," she said.
“I don’t mind admitting to you that, as we take these first steps, I do feel a bit nervous. I worry that the limited changes that we’re making to these rules might lead to much greater change in reality and so I really need your help to make sure that is not the case.”
She added: “Make sure that love, kindness and solidarity continue to be our guiding principles.”
