Coronavirus in Scotland: Here's what will reopen from next week

During a daily briefing on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon said the continued suppression of coronavirus and the success of the vaccine rollout meant lifting restrictions on 26 April can go ahead as planned.

On Monday next week, Scotland will move from Level 4 to Level 3 – here’s what you can do:

Hospitality sector

Cafes, restaurants, pubs and beer gardens can reopen from Monday, 26 April.

Customers will be able to collect takeaway food indoors, rather than having to collect it from a hatch or a window.

Inside hospitality venues, up to six people from a maximum of two households will be able to meet. In outdoor eating and drinking areas, up to six people from six different households will be able to meet.

Hospitality will need to close at 8pm indoors and 10pm outdoors, with alcohol only allowed to be served outside.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed the rules are different indoors “because the risk of transmission is greater.”

Rules will also be enforced to ensure that contact details for all customers – not just for the lead member of each group – will be taken down to bolster contact tracing should there be an outbreak.

Retail

All retail, including non-essential retail, can reopen from Monday next week.

This includes all close-contact services such as beauty parlours.

Leisure

Gyms and swimming pools can reopen for individual exercise and indoor attractions and public buildings such as galleries, museums and libraries are also able to reopen from Monday.

Childcare

Non-essential informal childcare can restart from Monday.

Children who have been shielding can also return to school from next week.

Weddings/funerals

Funerals and weddings – including post-funeral events and receptions – will be allowed to take place with up to 50 people, but no alcohol may be served.

Other

Non-essential work is again permitted inside people's homes and that includes cleaning and also repair work, and painting and decorating.

Driving lessons and driving tests can also resume.

Travel and tourist accommodation

Travel between Scotland, England and Wales will be permitted and tourist accommodation can welcome back visitors.

Restrictions on travel to Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will also be lifted.

Nicola Sturgeon stressed that international travel for “non-essential purposes” was “not yet permitted”.

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