Hugging and indoor visits allowed as restrictions ease

Scots will be able to hug their loved ones from Monday, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

During the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, the First Minister confirmed that the majority of mainland Scotland will move to level two of the Scottish Government’s five-tier Covid-alert system as scheduled from May 17.

From that date social distancing during meetings indoors or in private gardens will be dropped.

Sturgeon said: “I actually feel a wee bit emotional saying this, from Monday, as long as you stay within permitted limits, you can hug your loved ones again.”

The restrictions will remain in place away from homes and private gardens.

Moray is expected to remain in level three following a surge in cases and an increase in hospital admissions. A decision will be made later this week.

In the rest of the mainland, six people from three households will be able to meet indoors, the same number can meet in a hospitality venue and eight people from eight houses can meet outdoors.

Alcohol can be served indoors in pubs, cafes and restaurants, and cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades can reopen.

Many of Scotland’s islands will move to level one due to vaccination coverage and low case numbers.

The Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland are included, as are all islands in the Highland Council area except Skye. The move will also apply to islands in the Argyll and Bute council area.

Updates from the briefing:

Most of mainland Scotland will move to level two of the Scottish Government’s five-tier Covid-alert system as scheduled on Monday, May 17.
Moray could be left in level three due to rising coronavirus cases. A decision will be made later this week.
Islands including Shetland and the Western Isles will move to level one.
Six people from three households will be able to meet indoors, the same number can meet in a hospitality venue and eight people from eight houses can meet outdoors.
Hugs are back. From Monday, the rules on physical distancing will be dropped for personal gatherings inside and outside people’s homes. The restrictions will remain in place away from homes and private gardens.
Alcohol can be served indoors in pubs, cafes and restaurants until 10.30pm from Monday.
Cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades can reopen. Adult outdoor contact sports and indoor group exercises can resume.
International travel will move to a ‘traffic light system’ from Monday.

Regarding the easing of international travel, Sturgeon advised that Scots should “think seriously” about taking holidays and “err on the side of caution”.

Announcing the move to a new ‘traffic light system’ from Monday, the FM said: “Even though the rules on non-essential travel are starting to change, that doesn’t mean we’re saying that non-essential international travel is desirable.

“Everyone should think seriously about whether they should travel abroad this summer.

“When it comes to holidays abroad, my advice continues to be to err on the side of caution and to staycation this summer.”