Shropshire Star

Hugs, households and hospitality: What changes as Scotland moves to Level 2?

Up to six people from three households can socialise indoors in a private home or garden without physical distancing in most of Scotland from Monday.

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Nicola Sturgeon

All of mainland Scotland, with the “highly probable exception” of Moray, will move from Level 3 to Level 2 of the country’s coronavirus restrictions on Monday.

Many island areas will move to Level 1 – but what can we expect with the changes? Here, the PA news agency looks at how the restrictions are easing.

Majority of Scotland from May 17

The majority of Scotland moves from Level 3 to Level 2 but it remains to be seen whether Moray will be included in this shift.

Up to six people from three households can socialise indoors in a private home or garden without physical distancing.

And yes, that means you can hug your loved ones again with Nicola Sturgeon advising people to use their judgment about contact.

The same number of up to six people from three households can also meet in public places such as pubs or restaurants – but maintaining the social distancing requirements.

Up to eight people from up to eight households can meet outdoors.

Pubs can open and sell alcohol indoors until 10.30pm in two-hour booked slots. Local licensing laws will apply outdoors.

Outdoor adult contact sport can restart and non-professional performance arts can resume outdoors.

Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, music venues, comedy clubs, amusement arcades, casinos, snooker halls and bingo halls can open in a further extension of what was previously announced.

Chun Wong and his daughter Kiernan
A traffic light system for international travel will also be introduced on Monday (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Universities and colleges will be able return to a more blended model of learning.

Outdoor and indoor events can also resume with maximum capacities indoors of 100, outdoors seated of 500 and outdoors free-standing of 250.

A traffic light system for international travel will also be introduced on Monday with countries on the “green list” not required to quarantine on arrival – but travellers will have to take a PCR test.

Those arriving from a country on the amber list must self-isolate at home for 10 days, and take two PCR tests during this period.

Anyone entering Scotland from a red list nation will have to stay at a “managed isolation hotel” for 10 days.

Islands from May 17, rest of Scotland from June 7

Most of Scotland is expected to move from Level 2 to Level 1, however, the islands (except Skye) will move to Level 1 on Monday as a result of virus being sufficiently under control in these areas.

The current Level 1 figures for meeting in a private place are up to six people from up to three households – but with the Level 2 changes announced by Ms Sturgeon it remains to be seen if these will increase further.

Up to 12 people from 12 households can socialise outdoors and up to eight people from three households can socialise indoors in a public place, with hospitality able to remain open indoors until 11pm.

Attendance at events can increase, with maximum capacities indoors of 200, outdoors seated of 1,000 and outdoor free-standing of 500.

people have a drink
Hospitality will be able to remain open indoors until 11pm in Level 1 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

From late June

Scotland is then expected to move from Level 1 to Level 0.

Up to 10 people from up to four households can meet indoors in a public place and up to eight people from up to four households in a private place.

The limits on meeting outdoors changes to 15 people from 15 households.

The number of people allowed at events will increase further.

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