First Minister confirms Scotland WILL move to Level 0 on 19th July
The easing of restrictions means up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals.
Last updated 13th Jul 2021
The First Minister has confirmed Scotland will move to level zero from 19 July, meaning up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the changes in a virtual statement this afternoon.
Level zero also means up to eight people from four households can meet in a house and can stay overnight.
Up to ten people from four households can also meet in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant - and up to 15 people from 15 households can meet outdoors.
Hospitality venues can also stay open until midnight, and physical distancing in public places is being reduced from two metres to one metre.
200 people can attend weddings and funerals
It's after she confirmed 2,529 further positive cases of covid in the last 24 hours, which is 11.5% of tests.
Four more people have died in the last 24 hours after contracting the virus.
506 people are in hospital with the virus, and 41 people are in ICU with the virus.
The First Minister also confirmed a move to level zero means stadia and events can host up to 2,000 people in seated venues, and 1,000 people standing.
Soft plays across the country can also reopen for the first time since March last year - only soft plays in level one areas have been allowed to reopen so far.
The only industries which cannot yet reopen are nightclubs and adult entertainment.
Soft plays can reopen for first time since March 2020
Some modifications have been made to the original plans set out for level zero, including no changes to the advice to continue to work from home where possible.
The First Minister also confirmed groups of 15 meeting outside no longer need to social distance from each other, but do need to social distance from other groups.
The First Minister also confirmed despite changes to face mask rules in England, they will remain mandatory in Scotland.
Nightclubs and adult entertainment remain closed
Nicola Sturgeon also confirmed changes to self-isolating beyond level zero which is expected on 9 August. This will mean those double-vaccinated will not need to self-isolate as long as they received their second vaccination more than two weeks before and give a negative PCR test result.
Changes to self-isolation are also being looked at for school pupils.
Up to 2,000 people seated at stadia and events
The First Minister said: "We have asked our education advisory group for advice on whether, to what extent and with what mitigations we can remove the self isolation requirement for young people in education settings who are close contacts of positive cases."
People arriving into Scotland from amber listed countries will also not need to self-isolate if double-vaccinated.
Nicola Sturgeon said: "Self-isolation will no longer be required for people arriving from countries on the amber list, provided they are fully vaccinated through a UK vaccination programme and take a PCR test on the second day after arrival."