Raising a glass to relaxation of COVID rules
Now more freedoms at home and outside
Perth and Kinross residents will be able to enjoy more freedoms from this weekend as the region moves to level one COVID restrictions.
Among the many rule changes, more people will be allowed to meet up in private and in public, pubs and restaurants can stay open until 11pm, and soft play centres can finally reopen.
The rule easing will take effect from 00.01am tomorrow. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement during her COVID briefing at Holyrood on Tuesday.
The announcement comes despite cases rising in the region.
The infection rate of 39.5 per 100,000 people recorded on May 30, which is the most recent data, was the highest in the region since the same rate was recorded on April 5.
Under the new rules, up to six people from three households will be able to meet in a home and stay overnight, and for indoor public places, such as pubs, restaurants and cafes, up to eight people from three households can meet until close at 11pm.
Residents will be able to travel anywhere in the United Kingdom and up to 100 guests will be able to attend weddings and funerals.
There will be a maximum capacity of 1000 spectators at outdoor seated and open space events.
All organised outdoor sports, personal training and coaching will be permitted, provided appropriate safety measures are followed.
However, indoor contact sports will still not be permitted, except for professional sport, and all nightclubs will remain closed.
The region joins the Fife, Angus, Highland, Argyle and Bute, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Falkirk, Inverclyde, East and West Lothian, East Dunbartonshire, Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders areas in easing restrictions to level one.
However, the neighbouring Dundee, Clackmannanshire and Stirling areas will remain in level two after a recent rise in coronavirus cases.
Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, welcomed the move and said: “This news will be warmly and widely welcomed in my constituency, both by businesses – the hospitality sector, in particular – and by individuals.
“The main changes that most people will welcome are an increase in the number of people who can gather together, with limits for public places going up to eight people from three households indoors, and 12 people from 12 households outdoors.
“Additionally, and importantly, the number allowed to attend weddings and funerals will double from 50 to 100.
“There is absolutely no doubt that these changes will be very welcome indeed.
“Caution, however, must remain our watchword and I urge everyone to respect these new limits to help us all move forward.”