Scotland lockdown: What are the new rules in phase two of easing restrictions?

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scotland will move into the second phase of its four-step plan to easing lockdown.

This will include allowing people to form “extended household groups” if they live alone, or live alone with children under the age of 18.

The first minister told the Scottish Parliament on Thursday that the progress in suppressing the virus was “clear and substantial”, saying: “Taking account of that progress and the other evidence we are required to assess, I am therefore very pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government has concluded that we can now move into the next phase of our exit from lockdown.”

Sturgeon said that while the virus “has not gone away”, it has been suppressed to its current levels “because of lockdown”.

Scotland’s roadmap to easing lockdown measures has deviated from England since 11 May, when Sturgeon rejected Boris Johnson’s new “stay alert” slogan, instead opting to maintain the original “stay at home” message. As of 18 June, that has now been changed to: “Stay safe, protect others, save lives”.

So what do the new rules mean now, and has the first minister’s latest update changed going out, seeing friends and family and doing exercise?

Sturgeon told MSPs at Holyrood that people in Scotland who live on their own, or alone with children under the age of 18, will be allowed to form an “extended household group” from Friday 19 June.

This will mean they can meet indoors without the need for physical distancing, in addition to being able to stay overnight in other households. But if anyone from the extended group contracts coronavirus then the whole group is required to self-isolate.

Furthermore, people will be able to meet other individuals from two other households while outside in groups of no more than eight people, in addition to being permitted to go inside other people’s homes to use their toilet when meeting in their garden, Sturgeon said.

There were no restrictions on how far people could travel to form the household group.

This follows a similar “support bubble” model in England, which was introduced in mid-June.

People in Scotland were previously only allowed to see people from different households outside at a distance of at least two metres, in groups no larger than eight people.

This included being permitted to see people in parks or private gardens.

Sturgeon once again reiterated the importance of people staying within a five-mile radius of their home for recreational purposes.

She also confirmed that from Friday people in the shielding category will be able to go outside for exercise.

Since May in Scotland most outdoor leisure activities have been permitted, such as golf, tennis, fishing and sitting in a park to sunbathe – as long as you are maintaining social distancing and good levels of hygiene.

From Monday 22 June the first minister said dentists will be able to reopen and professional sport can resume.

From 29 June, outdoor markets, playgrounds, and sports facilities will open in Scotland. And non-essential businesses can reopen, with restrictions in place.

Zoos and other outdoor attractions can also open on that date.

Although again, for recreational purposes, people should not be travelling further than five miles from home.

Before 29 June, shops and councils must ensure that they devise plans for the “responsible use of public space”, Sturgeon stressed.

This includes having an outdoor exit and entrance – so large shopping centres will not be included.

The first minister asked that when customers visit shops, that they “exercise patience, stick to the measures that are in place for your safety, and at all times please respect retail staff who will be asking you to shop in a different way”.

On Monday 22 June places of worship can reopen – although only for individual prayer and not congregational services.

The second phase of the roadmap in Scotland also suggested that beer gardens and outdoor seating areas in restaurants could be opened, but Sturgeon said she is “not able to give a date for that just yet”.

She continued: “There is emerging evidence that places such as pubs, restaurants, and gyms can be hotspots for transmission.”

Sturgeon suggested further evidence will be available to make a decision on pubs and restaurants in two weeks, or around 2 July.

Restrictions on moving house will also be dropped from next week and weddings will be allowed to go ahead, but only if they are outdoors and with “limited numbers”.

And, like in England, face coverings are now mandatory on public transport from 22 June. This includes buses, trains, taxis and trams.

Only children under five, those with breathing difficulties or other physical conditions, which make it hard to wear a mask, being exempt.