Falkirk residents will be able to enjoy a little bit more in the way of freedom from Friday, when lockdown rules are eased.
Niciola Sturgeon has announced the 'Stay At Home' message will be replaced with 'Stay Local' meaning we'll able to get out and about a bit more.
But we will have to stay within our council area unless travelling for essential purposes such as work or child care.
Hairdressers and barbers will be able to take appointments in the district from Monday, April 5, as previously announced, while more shops will be able to offer click and collect services.
Garden centres and homeware stores will be able to reopen next week while other non-essential shops must wait till April 26.
Restrictions on non-essential travel across local authority boundaries will remain in place for now, the First Minister said.
Sturgeon said: "We have made progress both in suppressing the virus and in vaccination, and therefore the changes I previously indicated will go ahead on 2 and 5 April.
"The stay at home rule is being replaced by a requirement to stay local - while Covid levels remain high in some areas, and while a lot of people remain unvaccinated, we do not want the virus to spread from areas with relatively high prevalence to areas with low rates of infection. That’s why the current travel restrictions, which prevent non-essential travel outside your local authority area, are really important.
"It will be easier to relax more restrictions in the future if case numbers remain under control, so when things open up slightly this weekend please continue to stick to the rules, and follow the advice and the instructions given by store staff to keep you and the other customers safe."
