Scotland’s roadmap out of lockdown: What rules has Nicola Sturgeon lifted?

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scotland will take further steps out of lockdown from next week.

From next Monday 17 May, the majority of council areas in Scotland will move from level three to level two.

Meanwhile, many of the Scottish islands will move to level one. This will apply to the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, all islands in the Highland Council area - with the exception of Skye - and the islands in the Argyll and Bute area.

Moray however will remain at level three. Here infection rates are more than four times the level currently seen in the rest of Scotland which has caused concerns over restrictions easing there.

The first minister outlined the latest changes in a Covid briefing at lunchtime on Tuesday.

Nicola Sturgeon explained: “The situation overall is now a big positive one and so that means we are in a position to relax more restrictions and restore much more normality to people’s lives.”

She also announced the return of hugs saying: “This means - and I actually feel a wee bit emotional saying this - that from Monday as long as you stay within permitted minutes you can hug your loved ones again.”

Next week’s easing means that people in level two will be allowed to meet in each other’s homes in limited numbers from Monday. Initially this rule will allow groups of up to four people, from no more than two households, to meet up inside and stay overnight in other peoples’ homes.

Children under the age of 12 will not be included on the limit on overall numbers, but are counted in the limit on numbers of different households meeting.

Indoor hospitality is also set to return with restaurants allowed to stay open until 10:30pm. Numbers will be limited to six adults from a maximum of three different households, rather than just two.

Meeting up outdoors will also change with up to eight adults from eight different households allowed to meet. Children under 12 will not be counted in this limit on numbers.

Outoor and indoor events will also be able to resume with limited capacity. This will be a maximum of 100 people seated inside and 250 standing outdoors. Outdoor seated events will be limited to 500 people.

Meanwhile, cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades will be allowed to reopen. Outdoor contact sports and indoor group exercises will also be allowed to restart.

Those living in areas moving into level one will experience even more relaxed restrictions with up to 12 people from 12 households allowed to meet outdoors in private gardens.

Travel has been allowed across the whole of Scotland since the previous phase of easing of restrictions. Travel into and out of Moray may from next week however be limited to “permitted purposes only.” It is expected that a final decision on this will be taken at the end of the week.

It is thought that international travel will also be allowed to restart from 24 May, with Scotland moving to a traffic light system for travel out of the country.

Currently in Scotland, cafes, pubs, non-essential shops and museums are open. Scots can visit shops, swimming pools, libraries, museums and gyms, as well as eating indoors at cafes, pubs and restaurants.

However, only a maximum of six people from two households can meet indoors at a hospitality venue, no alcohol can be served, and indoor socialising must close at 8pm. For those happy to sit outside, alcoholic drinks can be ordered.

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has urged people to support the retail sector. The group’s director David Lonsdale said: “We encourage Scots to get out and visit their favourite shops over the coming weeks knowing every purchase they make and every item they buy is a local job supported and a high street helped.

“Unlocking consumer spending will be central to Scotland’s economic recovery and to bouncing back quickly.”

Travel between Scotland, England and Wales is also currently permitted and tourist accommodation has also been welcoming back visitors for several weeks.

26 April:

17 May

7 June (or 17 May for the Scottish islands of Orkney, the Western Isles, Shetland, all islands in the Highland Council area - with the exception of Skye - and the islands in the Argyll and Bute area.)

Late June:

Unlike in England, the Scottish government has not yet set a target date to remove all restrictions, instead saying it will follow the scientific evidence.