IS THERE LIGHT END OF THE TUNNEL?

Wishaw’s steps out of lockdown have revealed a possible return for retail and hospitality businesses by the end of April.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon updated ministers at Holyrood last week, saying that at present there is “limited scope” for easing restrictions.

She set out the Scottish Government’s plans to gradually emerge from current lockdown restrictions.

The First Minister said that Scotland will return to a levels system by the last week of April, from around April 26. Areas currently under level four restrictions will move to level three or lower, dependent on virus number.

Ms Sturgeon revealed that it’s hoped that a “phased reopening” of the economy – including non-essential retail, hospitality and services like gyms and hairdressers – will start on this date, subject to a review in mid-March.

The next phase of pupils returning to the classroom could be possible from March 15, with pupils in P4 to P7 returning to the classroom and more senior phase secondary pupils back in the classroom for at least part of their learning.

Pupils in P1 to P3, nursery pupils and some senior pupils returned on Monday.

The First Minister said: “Then, a minimum of three weeks after that – so from around April 5 – it is our hope that the ‘stay at home’ restriction will be lifted. We would aim for any final phase of school return to take place on this date.”

Restrictions on care home visiting could also be eased from early March.

In revealing that she hoped to lift stay-athome restrictions from April 5, the First Minister stressed that all measures were conditional on the continued suppression of the virus.

She added: “We are looking at much brighter days ahead.

“The framework is deliberately cautious at this stage – but in the coming weeks, if the data allows, we’ll seek to accelerate the easing of restrictions.

“I’m as confident as I can be that the indicative, staged, timetable that I have set out today – from now, until late April when the economy will start to substantially re-open – is a reasonable one.

“In mid March, when we have made further progress on vaccines and have greater understanding of the impact of the initial school return, I hope we can set out more detail of further re-opening over April, May and into the summer.”