Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Wednesday announced provisional dates for the relaxation of travel restrictions and the restarting of the hospitality industry, among many other measures.
Provisionally, pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen from July 15.
The indicative dates for Phase 2 and early Phase 3 measures were announced to help with planning.
Setting out indicative dates, the Sturgeon stressed that while sustained progress has been made to suppress the coronavirus COVID-19, the changes remain contingent on scientific and public health advice.
Physical distancing of two metres continues to be required in Scotland.
The First Minister confirmed that the Scientific Advisory Group is providing advice on higher transmission risk settings and physical distancing and that she will provide a further update on July 2.
Sturgeon said: “The sacrifices that have been made – and I know how hard and at times painful they have been – have suppressed the virus.
“They have also protected the NHS, and have undoubtedly saved a significant number of lives.
“They have also brought us to the position where we can now look ahead with a bit more clarity to our path out of lockdown, and I hope details announced today will provide people and businesses with more certainty in their forward planning.
“But let me be clear that each step on this path depends on us continuing to beat the virus back.
“That is why we must do everything in our power to avoid steps being reversed.
“The central point in all of this is the virus has not – and it will not – go away of its own accord. It will pose a real and significant threat to us for some time to come.
“Maintaining our progress also means all of us abiding by public health guidance.
“Wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces, avoiding crowded places, washing our hands and cleaning surfaces regularly, maintaining physical distancing, agreeing to immediately self-isolate and get a test if we have symptoms – all of these basic protections matter now more than ever as we all get out and about a bit more.”
Indicative Phase 2 dates:
- 3 July – Travel distance limit for leisure will be lifted
- 3 July – Self-catering holiday accommodation will be permitted, providing it requires no shared facilities between households
- 6 July – Outdoor hospitality can commence subject to the Scientific Advisory Group review
Indicative Phase 3 dates:
- 10 July – People can meet in extended groups outdoors, with physical distancing
- 10 July – Households can meet indoors with up to a maximum of two households, with physical distancing
- 13 July – Organised outdoor contact sport can resume for children and young people, subject to guidance
- 13 July – All dental practices begin to see registered patients for non-aerosol routine care, and work will begin to return aerosol generating procedures to practice safely
- 13 July – Increasing capacity within community optometry practices for emergency and essential eye care
- 13 July – Non-essential shops inside shopping centres can reopen, subject to the Scientific Advisory Group review
- 15 July – All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements
- 15 July – All holiday accommodation will be permitted
- 15 July – Indoor hospitality can reopen, subject to the Scientific Advisory Group review
- 15 July – Hairdressers and barbers can reopen with enhanced hygiene measures
- 15 July – Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries will reopen with physical distancing and other measures, such as ticketing in advance
Previously announced Phase 2 measures commencing Monday:
- indoor (non-office) workplaces resume once relevant guidance is implemented. This includes: factories, warehouses, labs and research facilities. But excludes: indoor workplaces due to open in Phase 3 (e.g. nonessential offices and call-centres)
- street-access retail can re-open once guidance is implemented. Interiors of shopping centres/malls remain closed for non-essential shops until Phase 3
- outdoor markets can re-open once guidance is implemented
- relaxation on restrictions on housing moves
- outdoor sports courts can re-open
- playgrounds can re-open
- registration offices open for high priority tasks
- marriages and civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees, strictly outdoors only
- zoos and garden attractions can open for local access only (broadly within 5 miles) until 3 July