Stirling will move in to Level 3 coronvairus restrictions from Monday, the First Minister has confirmed.
Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that businesses will be given the green light to re-open from Monday, April 26, as mainland Scotland drops from Level 4 to 3.
From Monday, all shops will be able to re-open and close contact services, including beauty parlours can re-open.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants will also be permitted to re-open with restrictions.
Attendance at funerals and weddings will be increased from 20 to 50 from that date.
Gyms and swimming pools will also be able to re-open for individual exercise.
Tourist accommodation can also reopen.
All remaining travel restrictions will also be lifted, meaning Scots will be able to travel anywhere across the UK without restrictions.
From Monday, people on the shielding list will also be able to return to the workplace, for those who can't work from home.
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
Speaking at her daily press briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: "Our weekly case rate, per hundred thousand people, has fallen from 38 to 30 in the last seven days. The number of people in hospital and intensive care is also reducing. And the number of deaths is continuing to fall.
"That sustained improvement has already allowed us to relax some restrictions in recent weeks. Almost all children are now back at school full-time – something which I know will be a big relief to them and their parents.
"Taking all of the recent data into account, I am pleased to be able to confirm today that from Monday, April 26, those parts of the country that are currently in level 4 will move to level 3. That of course includes all of mainland Scotland.
"From next Monday, all shops which are still closed and all close contact services, such as beauty parlours, can re-open.
"It will be possible to collect takeaway food indoors – rather than having to collect it from a hatch or window. And hospitality venues like cafés, pubs and restaurants can reopen. In outdoor settings, opening hours will be determined by local licensing laws.
"Alcohol can be served outdoors, and people will be able to meet in groups of up to six, from up to six different households.
"The rules for hospitality indoors are different – because the risks of transmission are greater. Cafés, pubs and restaurants can serve indoors until 8pm – but they are not yet able serve alcohol.
"Up to six people will be allowed to meet indoors – however they must come from a maximum of two households. Contrary to some suggestions, the requirements on physical distancing for hospitality have not changed from those in place previously."
The First Minister further outlined plans to move to Level 2 on Monday, May 17, depending on continued falling case rates. That would see people be allowed to meet in small numbers in each other’s homes, hospitality re-opening more fully and the resumption of outdoor contact sport for adults.
If case numbers continue to fall from that date then it's hoped that Scotland would move to Level 1 on Monday, June 7, before moving to level 0 by late June.
Ms Sturgeon confirmed that there had been a further two deaths reported yesterday of patients who first tested positive over the previous 28 days. That takes Scotland's death toll to 7,644.
As of 7.30am this morning, 2,750,052 people in Scotland have received their first dose of the Covid vaccine with 797,267 people also having received their second dose.
