First minister relaxes lockdown restrictions in Scotland from today

PEOPLE i n Scotland will be able to meet one other household at a time outdoors from today as l ockdown measures ease, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The change is one of a series of restrictions being relaxed as the country moves i nto phase one of the Scottish Government’s four-phase plan for gradually lifting lockdown.

The first minister said changes can now be made as a downward trend in the spread of the virus is “sustained and unmistakable”.

Ms Sturgeon stressed people should continue to socially distance when meeting another household outdoors and said the maximum number in the group should be eight.

The Scottish Government strongly recommends people do not meet more than one other household a day, although this will not be legally enforceable.

Other changes announced, which come into effect from today, allow people to travel from their home for leisure such as sunbathing and sports including fishing, golf and tennis, and will enable garden centres to reopen and construction sites to prepare for resuming work.

A legal limit will not be put on how far people will be allowed to travel for recreation but the first minister said the “strong advice” of the Scottish Government was to stay within five miles.

From Monday, teachers will be able to go into schools for preparation ahead of t he planned opening on August 11.

The death t ol l i n Scotland has reached 2,316 with 15,288 people being tested positive, i ncluding 1,665 people in Tayside.