How far can we drive and who are we able to see?

AS families and friends can reunite from today, Scottish Political Editor MICHAEL BLACKLEY assesses what is allowed and what is not.

Q: Can we meet friends and family again?

A: Yes, but there are restrictions. You can only meet up with one household per day, up to a maximum of eight people. This must happen outdoors, such as a park or garden, and people must continue to stay two metres apart.

Q: Can we arrange a picnic or barbecue?

A: Yes, but people from different households are advised not to share food, plates, cutlery or cups but to bring their own. They should also avoid touching any hard surfaces. They should also ensure that they do not need to enter a house for any reason – even going to the bathroom is not allowed.

Q: How far can you travel to meet friends and family?

A: The guidance says a maximum of five miles but this is not a legallyenforceable regulation. People are being advised to show common sense and not travel so far that, for example, they have to use the bathroom away from home.

Q: Are family games allowed?

A: Non-contact outdoor sport is allowed – but nothing can take place that means the two-metre rule is not obeyed. Golf, fishing, bowling and tennis are among the sports that can resume. Other activities could include athletics, archery, angling, croquet, cycling, horse riding, swimming and water sports.

Q: What about a day out at an attraction?

A: Indoor facilities, including sports centres and children’s attractions, remain closed.

Q: What about couples who don’t live together?

A: They can meet up again but this must happen outside and they still have to adhere to the two metres social distancing – so they can’t get intimate.

Nicola Sturgeon has said more guidance will be published on this issue soon. Family hugs are also still not allowed under the current guidelines.

Q: Can you take your grandchildren, nephews or nieces to the play park?

A: Play parks will remain closed because of the risks of people from different households touching the same hard surfaces. However, unmanned open facilities such as outdoor skate parks or cycle tracks can be used, with strict physical distancing in place.

Q: Can we take the grandchildren camping for the weekend?

A: This is unlikely. Leisure travel is still limited to five miles and you shouldn’t have people from another household in your vehicle anyway. And two metres of social distancing may be next to impossible in most tents or campervans.

Q: What happens if you need to walk through a house to get to the garden?

A: The guidance does state that you should not enter someone else’s house. However, it does also make an exception that if you need to go through a house to access a garden then you should do so quickly and without touching surfaces.

Q: Can you go hiking or hillwalking together, or to the beach?

A: Yes, you can do this with members of one other household. But travel should ideally be limited to five miles and people are being advised to use judgment and ensure that, if somewhere is going to be busy, they do not go.

Q: What happens for children whose parents live apart?

A: These children can still be moved between each parent’s home.