Nicola Sturgeon had a cheeky glint in her eye today as she confirmed the news that will be welcomed by fed-up couples across Scotland who have spent lockdown living apart.
The First Minister revealed that any Scots living alone - or only with children under 18 - can form an "extended household group" with one other household.
That means they can meet indoors and stay overnight without the need for physical distancing.
With a knowing smirk, she told MSPs: "It will allow a non-cohabiting
couple - where at least one of them lives alone - to be reunited, indoors, without physical distancing.
"It will, I hope, help ease some of the isolation - which is one of the cruellest consequences of tackling this virus.
But she added: "I would encourage those who choose to form extended households to pay particular attention to hygiene measures to reduce the risk that one household will bring the virus into another."
The rule does not apply to households with people who are shielding
and any other household meetings must remain strictly outdoors and at a two metre distance.
Members of an extended household group should not form a similar arrangement with any other household.
