Covid-19 restrictions ease for millions of people in Scotland

5 June 2021, 07:55

Glasgow has dropped to Level 2 of Scotland's coronavirus measures. Picture: PA

By Asher McShane

Several areas have moved from level two to one of Coronavirus restrictions in Scotland, with people now able to enjoy pints indoors in Glasgow for the first time since October.

However it was announced earlier this week that a planned relaxation of rules across much of Scotland's central belt has been delayed due to rising case numbers.

The city of Glasgow has dropped to Level 2 of Scotland's coronavirus measures, joining 13 other council areas in remaining in Level 2 for another few weeks.

These are Edinburgh, Midlothian, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North and South Lanarkshire, Clackmannanshire and Stirling.

Glaswegians will be able to drink alcohol indoors, meet in private residences, and hug loved ones from the weekend for the first time in months.

When announcing the move on Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon admitted while the Level 2 restrictions were "still tough" she also insisted it was "not lockdown".

She added: "We can go into each other's homes, we can see hospitality open, stay open indoors, so there are significant steps there."

People can meet in homes in groups of no more than six, from a maximum of three households and can also travel from outside their local authority area to other parts of the country.

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can reopen for drinking indoors while a number of venues will be allowed to reopen and outdoor adult contact sports can start again.

However 15 council areas moved to Level 1 restrictions from midnight on Saturday: Highland, Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Falkirk, Fife, Inverclyde, East and West Lothian, West Dunbartonshire, Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

Under these restrictions, eight people from three households can meet inside public spaces while, outdoors, the limit has increased to 12 people from 12 households.

It also means 100 people - rather than 50 - can attend weddings and funerals.

Soft play centres and funfairs can also reopen while pubs can open slightly later indoors.

Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles council areas will move to Level 0, allowing larger groups to meet in a private residence and adult contact sport to return.

Pubs and other hospitality venues can shut under their local licensing laws, rather than abiding to a national curfew.

The maximum attendance at weddings and funerals will be 200 - rather than 100 at Level 1 and 50 at Level 2.

People can meet indoors in groups of up to four households.