Lockdown: New guidance on outdoor exercise this weekend

Fresh Scottish Government guidance potentially allowing more outdoor exercise will be issued over the weekend, Nicola Sturgeon said.

The First Minister confirmed the coronavirus lockdown will be extended in Scotland until May 28 but stressed some regulations can be altered, provided it is safe to do so.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily briefing, she said ministers and officials are looking into expanding the current guidance over exercise.

Advice for Scots currently states that exercise should be limited to one session per day.

It comes after Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a “minor” easing of restrictions in three areas in Wales.

He said that from Monday, more outdoor exercise will be permitted, garden centres will be allowed to reopen (with two-metre social distancing in place) and councils will be able to look at potentially reopening libraries and recycling centres.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to make a national address on Sunday concerning the lockdown measures in England.

Speaking on Friday, Sturgeon said: “The only change that we’re considering in the immediate term is the guidance on outdoor exercise, as I mentioned yesterday and I will give you a further update on that over the weekend.”

The First Minister also said, on a call with the Prime Minister and leaders of the devolved administrations on Thursday, there was a “helpful recognition” that the four nations may move at different speeds, should the science suggest it is necessary to do so.

But she added: “For now my message to you remains the same: you must stay at home, please stay at home.

“Except for essential purposes such as exercise of buying food or medicines, you should not be going out.

“If you do go out you should be staying more than two metres from other people and you should not be meeting up with other households.

“You should wear a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport and you should isolate completely if you or someone else in your household has symptoms.”