Covid-19 rules set to ease
Retail and hospitality businesses across the Strath and beyond were this week told they will be able to re-open their doors next month.
The latest timeline for the lifting of coronavirus restrictions was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday.
The first steps will come into effect from April 2 with the ‘stay at home’ order replaced by guidance to ‘stay local’.
From April 5, the opening of non-essential retail will begin to get under way with ‘click and collect’ businesses able to re-open, alongside garden centres, homeware stores and car showrooms.
Hairdressers and barbers will also be allowed to re-open from this date.
April 26 marks a major milestone in the easing of restrictions, with mainland Scotland set to move to Level Three of the ‘route map’ out of lockdown and travel across Scotland permitted once again.
Retail and tourist accommodation can also re-open, as well as museums, libraries and galleries.
It is expected indoor gyms will be allowed to open for individual sessions, while limits on attendance at weddings and funerals will be increased to 50.
Hospitality is also expected to be given the partial green light from April 26 – with cafes, restaurants and bars able to serve up to six people from three households outdoors, with alcohol permitted and no requirement for food to be served.
There are also hopes some curbs on indoor hospitality could also be eased for premises serving food only.
The final significant date in the plan is May 17, when Level Three areas are planned to move to Level Two and indoor hospitality will be able to move to greater levels of normality.
Cinemas and bingo halls will be among the businesses waiting for this date, while certain indoor events may be allowed with a limited capacity.
Universities and other further education establishments will also move to a ‘blended ’model from this date, allowing more students to return to campuses.
And, most significantly, Ms Sturgeon expressed hope that restrictions on indoor visiting may be eased by this date at the latest.
In her statement to Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said the changes were dependent on continued progress against the virus and the roll-out of vaccines.