Scotland ease restrictions, but masks mandatory
Scotland will move to level zero of Covid-19 restrictions on 19 July, but face masks will remain mandatory for “some time.”
Nicola Sturgeon said the planned easing had to be altered due to the spread of the Delta variant.
By moving to level zero, more people will be allowed to indoor mix and attend weddings and funerals.
But limits on outdoor meetings are to be maintained, and the return to working in the office is to be delayed.
Ms Sturgeon said “sensible precautions” had to be maintained while the vaccine programme continues.
Sturgeon remains hopeful Scotland could beyond level zero from 9 August – the date the government aimed to scrap most legal restrictions.
Ministers also plan remove the blanket requirement for close contacts of those who test positive to self-isolate – as long as they have had two doses of vaccine – at that point.
A decision on whether school pupils – who are the close contacts of positive cases – will have to self-isolate will be made before the new academic term.
Those who are double-jabbed and returning from amber list countries will not need to quarantine as of Monday, as long as they take a test after arrival.
But the mandatory wearing of face coverings and guidance on ventilation and hand hygiene would remain in place “for some time”.
Ms Sturgeon added: “We must stick to a cautious approach. We are easing restrictions next week, but we are not abandoning them.
“And even when we move beyond level zero, we will continue to require some baseline measures such as face coverings.”
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