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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces "gradual and steady" steps out of lockdown for Scotland as four people from two households allowed to meet


By Jonathan Clark

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Nicola Sturgeon announced the new measures at Holyrood.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the new measures at Holyrood.

SCOTLAND'S First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a number of "gradual and steady" changes that will speed up the country's lockdown exit.

Speaking to MSPs at Holyrood this afternoon, Ms Sturgeon announced that four adults from two households will be able to meet locally outdoors from Friday, March 12.

People can meet in private gardens, but should only go indoors if it is essential in order to reach a garden, or to go to the toilet.

From the same date, four people between the ages of 12 and 17, from four households, can meet and non-contact exercise will be allowed in groups of up to 15 for people of all ages.

Depending on virus transmission, communal worship will be allowed from March 26 with a maximum attendance of 50, if there is enough space for two-metre distancing.

A final decision on this will be taken on March 23, ahead of Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said these changes were possible "due to the hard sacrifices" being made by the majority of people.

She added: "In recent weeks, we have seen a significant fall in new cases, deaths and hospital admissions, and the vaccination programme is progressing beyond our initial expectations.

"All of this is excellent news, and provides strong grounds for hope, but that hope must also be balanced by caution.

"The changes announced today, while modest, are important, and are designed to help people’s health and well-being by enabling group exercise and allowing more social interaction.

"I expect that further, more substantial, changes will be possible in the weeks ahead and I will set out as much detail as I can about that in parliament next week.

"If the data allows us to relax more restrictions more quickly than we have previously indicated, we will not hesitate to do so."

Ms Sturgeon said she will set out a "firmer, indicative timetable" on reopening the economy next week.

The First Minister also mentioned plans to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Scotland's first Covid-19 death, as well as the anniversary of lockdown on March 23, with a minute's silence.


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