Covid update at Holyrood on social distancing and Level Zero in Scotland

The First Minister will update MSPs this afternoon

Author: Rob WallerPublished 22nd Jun 2021

Nicola Sturgeon is due to set out what life in Scotland will look like under the lowest level of coronavirus restrictions with announcement at Holyrood on the latest review of the route map out of lockdown.

The First Minister said last week it was "unlikely'' that any area would see restrictions eased on June 28 - the date it had been hoped all of Scotland would move into Level 0 restrictions.

Ms Sturgeon previously said this move would likely be delayed by three weeks.

When will social distancing end in Scotland?

The Scottish Government will also publish a review on Tuesday of physical distancing requirements, along with a paper which Ms Sturgeon said would set out "what we hope life will look like beyond Level 0 - as we get to the point where we can lift all, or virtually all, of the remaining restrictions''.

This level, the lowest in Scotland's five-tier system, is only currently in place in the island authorities of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, with all mainland areas having either Level 1 or Level 2 restrictions applied.

Three week delay for Level Zero

Ms Sturgeon previously told MSPs: "Given the current situation - and the need to get more people fully vaccinated before we ease up further - it is reasonable to indicate now that I think it unlikely that any part of the country will move down a level from June 28.

"Instead, it is likely that we will opt to maintain restrictions for a further three weeks from June 28 and use that time to vaccinate - with both doses - as many more people as possible.

"Doing that will give us the best chance, later in July, of getting back on track and restoring the much greater normality that we all crave.''

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