Families can meet again following lockdown easing
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PEOPLE will be able to meet loved ones they have not seen in the last 10 weeks with an easing of lockdown.
However, reunions can only take place outdoors and people who do not live together must still maintain a safe distance of two metres.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that Scotland was in a position to move into phase one of its strategy to exit lockdown.
She said: "The only reason we can make any changes today is that we have made progress in suppressing this virus. And that is entirely down to the sacrifices that all of you have made."
Households will be able to meet up with one other household each day, but only in a public park or a private garden.
The maximum number of people allowed to meet between the two households will be eight, but there cannot be hugs or embraces at this stage.
With good weather forecast for this weekend,many people will now be planning barbecues, but Ms Sturgeon said people should be careful not to share cups and cutlery, and bring their own food.
People will be able to meet only one household per day but can meet a different household each day.
People can begin playing golf, tennis, bowls and go fishing from Friday but again must ensure social distancing and strict hygiene.
It is now possible to sit or sunbathe in local parks.
Garden centres and plant nurseries can also reopen.
Outdoor work can resume and the construction industry will be allowed to restart site preparation.
However, non-essential shops, and pubs, restaurants and cafes - except for takeaway - must remain closed at this stage.
The First Minister is urging people to remain with five miles of their home for leisure and recreation purposes, and insists people should not drive to beauty spots and holiday destinations.
She said: "Our progress remains fragile. We must proceed with the utmost care and caution.
"We simply don't want in this phase to see large numbers of people at tourist hotspots or beauty spots. Crowds of people, even if they are socially distancing, bring more risk than we judge is acceptable or safe at this point.
"I suspect many of you will be planning a picnic or barbecue this weekend. If you are, not only should you stay two metres apart from the other household, but each household should bring its own food, cutlery, plates and cups. Don't share these things and don't go indoors.
"I know all of us will be looking forward to meeting family and friends for the first time in a while but how we do this will be really vital.
"Before you meet up with people from another household, you should stop, think and read the guidance, and make sure you protect yourself and others."
The First Minister also had a message for people who have been advised to shield due to underlying health conditions since lockdown came into effect on March 23 and not leave their homes.
"I know the impact our advice is having on you and your loved ones is significant. You have not been forgotten and are central in our thinking."
She said revised advice for people shielding will be issued in a bid to move away from a blanket approach to shielding and tailor the advice to people's specific circumstances.
And she also revealed that the government is looking at the situation of couples who do not live in the same house.
Ms Sturgeon said the easing was possible because the R number - the transmission rate of the virus - remains in a range of 0.7 to 1.
"However, we have now reasonable confidence that the R number has been below 1 for a period of more than three weeks.
"Our modelling also shows that the prevalence of the virus is reducing.
"Our latest estimate is that as of last Friday, May 22, there were 19,000 infectious cases in Scotland.
"In addition, the number of patients in intensive care has fallen by 80 per cent since the peak.
"And the number of new hospital admissions has fallen by more than 80 per cent."
Deaths associated with Covid-19 – both overall and in care homes - have now declined for four consecutive weeks.
The Scottish Government's Test and Protect system has also been launched today.
Any person who has symptoms of Covid-19 - a cough, a temperature or loss of taste or smell - will be asked to immediately book a test.
You can do this at nhsinform.scot or by calling NHS 24 on 0800 028 2816.
All people in your household should self-isolate.
If you are contacted by Test and Protect to say you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you are also asked to follow the advice to self-isolate for 14 days.
Ms Sturgeon added: "You can minimise the chances of that happening by taking care not to be a close contact of someone outside your own household – and that means staying at least two metres distant from anyone who is not part of your household.
"Test and Protect will be a crucial part of our efforts to control the virus in the weeks ahead. But it will not do it – cannot do it - on its own."
