Social distancing ends for children

Children who are 11-yearsold or younger will no longer have to socially distance from other people, the Scottish Government announced yesterday.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the twometre social distancing rule will stay in place across Scotland unless there are mitigating measures in place in shops or hospitality businesses such as pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Announcing the results of a review into the two-metre rule, Ms Sturgeon said that the advice “made clear” that the science has not changed.

However, she announced that retail, hospitality and public transport will be able to reduce the two-metre rule to one metre, if there are measures in place, putting Scotland broadly in line with the guidance in England.

This would only be able to happen from the planned introduction of phase three from 10 July, with beer gardens opening on 6 July having to stick to the two-metre rule.

Among the measures included the relaxation of restrictions around young people, a decision made, the First Minister said, to help them enjoy the summer holidays. She said children under the age of 11 will no longer be forced to socially distance themselves from other children or adults, but the number of overall household contacts in one day would remain the same – no more than eight people and no more than two other households at a time – and adults will be required to follow social distancing.

Ms Sturgeon added that young people aged between 12 and 17 would still have to social distance, but would no longer be restricted by the number of households they could meet in a day.

Instead, they will be allowed to meet up to eight people from no more than three households at any one time, with no limit to the number of meetings per day.