First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms easing of travel and outdoor meeting coronavirus restrictions from Friday
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed Scotland is still on course for the wider reopening of businesses from April 26.
Speaking at a briefing at noon in Holyrood she said that the retail and hospitality sectors would be able to reopen from that date.
In addition she said Covid-19 restrictions on travel and meeting others in public from Friday – earlier than was expected.
She said that pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés would all be able to reopen outdoor areas, and on a limited basis indoors and shops would also be able to fully reopen.
She said: "Here in Scotland for the last few weeks - and this was a concern for a period - we’ve had rates of infection that were a bit higher than in some other parts of the UK - though we are now starting to see case numbers falling more markedly and more consistently.
"That is one reason to be cautious, but we have also seen over the past week or so some easing of restrictions, so last week we saw the re-opening of hairdressers and some retail outlets.
"And, of course, over this week and next week, there will be a much more significant change as all secondary schools return full time.
"So we have to be careful - and that has always been the way with this virus - not to do too much all at once.
"All of that said, because the data in the last two weeks in particular has been so encouraging, we can now give a bit more certainty to individuals and businesses about the way ahead - and indeed accelerate one aspect of the exit from lockdown which I think is important for our personal wellbeing."
She confirmed: "First of all, while of course we will continue to monitor the data, we are now extremely confident that those parts of the country currently in level 4 will move to level 3 on April 26.
"That's now less than two weeks away.
"That means, among other things, that on that day shops will fully reopen.
"Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be also able to fully open outdoors on April 26- and indoors on a more restricted basis.
"It is worth noting that the restricted indoor opening of hospitality on April 26, will be actually three weeks ahead of the indoor opening of hospitality in England.
"More generally, we currently expect the whole country to move to at least level 2 on May 17, to level 1 in early June; and to level 0 in later June.
"Updated levels tables are also being published on the Scottish Government’s website later today – to help people to see what the changes will mean in practice.
"Amongst other things, it means we should be able to meet up in each other’s homes indoors – all be it in small groups – from the middle of May onwards.
"This is something I know we all look forward to.
She added: "Reaching level 0 is not the extent of our ambitions.
"Later on in the summer - as the number of people who have been vaccinated increases further - we do hope that a level of normality well beyond level 0 will become possible.
"I know that many people want venues such as nightclubs to open again, and all of us want to be able to have lots of people around to our homes.
"Almost all of us, if not absolutely all of us, are desperate to be able to hug our loved ones. I remain optimistic, now more than I was even a few weeks ago, that some or hopefully all of that will be possible in the months ahead and over the summer period.
"Lastly, I want to set out a change to our existing plans.
"We have always said we will keep plans under review and accelerate the lifting of restrictions if possible.
"So we have considered whether we can bring forward any changes that will particularly boost mental health and wellbeing.
"In particular, we have looked at travel within Scotland to see friends and family, albeit outdoors.
"At the moment, we cannot leave our own local authority areas except for an essential purpose.
"That rule was due to remain in place until the April 26.
"But the data allows us to make a change to this earlier than that.
"So, from Friday this week - April 16- we will all be able to travel anywhere within Scotland for the purposes of outdoor socialising, recreation, or informal exercise.
"We are also able to relax the rules for meeting people outdoors, again from Friday.
"At the moment, a maximum of four adults from two households are permitted to meet outdoors.
"From Friday onwards, that will change to a maximum of six adults, from up to six households.
"So that's quite a significant relaxation of that outdoor meeting limit.
So in summary from the end of this week, you will be able to meet up with family and friends who live in different parts of the country.
" Many of those reunions will be long-awaited, and much anticipated.
"But please do remember that meetings at this stage, probably until the middle of May, meetings must still be outdoors – not inside our own homes.
"And I would ask everyone to please be careful and remember that due to physical distancing, public transport capacity remains relatively limited.
"And remember also that travel restrictions for wider purposes - such as leisure, shopping, visiting hospitality premises or staying in tourist accommodation - will remain until April 26 when these places will re-open and all travel restrictions within Scotland will be lifted.
"I can also confirm today that we do expect to lift restrictions on travel to and from England and Wales on April 26 – something which I know will be welcomed by many, and perhaps in particular by businesses in our tourism sector.
"Northern Ireland is due to review its restrictions later this week - so we will review our approach to travel there before April 26 and we hope that that can be freed up to.
"And travel restrictions to and from other parts of the common travel area – including the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands – will also be kept under review."
