Covid-19 restrictions are to ease in Scotland on Monday as Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the country will move to Level 0 of lockdown measures, with some changes to original plans.
The first minister briefed MSPs in a virtual setting of the Scottish parliament, which was recalled from its summer recess for the update.
She said the success of the vaccination programme meant restrictions could be eased as planned next week, but with some modifications.
Under the Level 0 rules, social distancing will be reduced to one metre inside public places.
Indoor gathering restrictions in homes will be lifted to allow up to eight people from up to three households to meet.
Ten people from four households can meet in a public indoor space – such as a pub or restaurant – and up to 15 people from up to 15 households can meet outdoors.
But some planned changes will not go ahead.
Ms Sturgeon said "for the next three weeks at least, there will be a requirement for one-metre distancing between different groups of 15" outdoors, despite plans to scrap the restriction entirely.
The 11pm closure time for pubs operating indoors will be changed to midnight – a change from original plans to scrap the limit entirely.
The planned “gradual return to the office” will also be postponed until August 9th.
Scotland plans to move beyond Level 0 on that date.
But Ms Sturgeon said the requirement to wear face coverings will remain. There are also no plans for the return of nightclubs and adult entertainment.
The central belt of Scotland is currently in Level 2 of measures, with the rest of the mainland in Level 1 and most of the islands in Level 0.
Ahead of the announcement, Edinburgh University professor of public health Linda Bauld stressed a cautious approach was needed.
Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme, she said: “What the Scottish government will want to avoid is what is happening in Europe now.
“The Netherlands has seen an over 700 per cent increase in cases. They’ve had to close nightclubs again, put restrictions on bars and restaurants, they’ve had to cancel mass events.
“I think the Scottish government will want to continue to move forward, but Level 0 is not a huge jump, it’s a relatively modest jump to the next stage.”
Meanwhile, another public health specialist urged the First Minister to keep the current restrictions in place for longer.
Professor Andrew Watterson, of Stirling University, said too few people currently had the protection of both vaccine doses.
He told the Times: “For this to be irreversible, it’s got to be cautious.
“We must rule nothing out and I’ve been very, very clear about that.
“We must protect the public and we will not hesitate to use the means that we have at our disposal.”
