A Scottish UK cabinet minister is calling for the 2-metre social distancing rules to be relaxed as soon as possible.
The BBC reports how Scottish Secretary Alister Jack believes the move is needed in order to protect the tourism and hospitality sector from going under.
Calls for social-distancing measures to be changed to 1 metre are also being suggested by former SNP MSP Andrew Wilson who highlighted the change could be key to supporting business across Scotland.
To receive one WhatsApp message a day with Edinburgh Live's headlines, as well as breaking news alerts, text NEWS to 07899067815. Then add the number to your contacts as 'Edinburgh Live'.
Currently, both the UK and Scottish Government support the 2m rule which is based on scientific evidence aimed at reducing the spread of covid-19.
But the UK Government is also being pressured by some Tory MPS to reduce the social distancing measurement in England.
Many industries, such as hairdressing, hospitality and tourism are concerned about the logistics of opening back under a 2m rule.
Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Jack said: "As soon as it is possible to do so with the R number suppressed, I would like to see it move to 1m to get back to something near normal in the way that we conduct our lives and our businesses as we see the virus recede
"We've seen this happen without any bad consequences in other European countries.
"For a lot of hospitality businesses they need 2m to become 1m when it is safe to do so to be economically viable."
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the measures will only be changed if the virus is eradicated.
She added: "The more we suppress - and hopefully eradicate Covid-19 - the more normality we can restore to the economy. Sustainability of recovery matters.
"If we can effectively eradicate Covid-19 and then control through Test and Protect and policies to mitigate against cases coming into country - we can restore much greater degree of normality.
"Decisions then about, eg, 2m v 1m are more possible. But first we must suppress/eradicate."
