Coronavirus in Scotland RECAP: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says planned May 17 lockdown easing will ‘go ahead’ |  pubs and cinemas to reopen | Moray still facing covid spike | 10 relaxed coronavirus rules

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Hello, and welcome to our live blog for Tuesday, May 11.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm today that Covid rules will be relaxed further next week – and you can get all the updates in our dedicated live blog.

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Nicola Sturgeon has said that guiding Scotland safely through the rest of the coronavirus pandemic is her “number one priority”.Nicola Sturgeon has said that guiding Scotland safely through the rest of the coronavirus pandemic is her “number one priority”.
Nicola Sturgeon has said that guiding Scotland safely through the rest of the coronavirus pandemic is her “number one priority”.

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Coronavirus in Scotland LIVE: Nicola Sturgeon confirmed on Tuesday that Covid rules will be relaxed further next week

Key Events

  • FM eases rules on indoor visits
  • Pubs and restaurants allowed to serve alcohol indoors
  • Meeting indoors and hugging from Monday
  • Scotland’s islands will move to Level 1

Hugs return in Scotland as Sturgeon confirms further lockdown easing

People in Scotland will be able to hugged loved ones again from Monday – subject to restrictions – an emotional Nicola Sturgeon has said as she confirmed further lockdown easing.

All of mainland Scotland, with the “highly probable exception” of Moray, will move from Level 3 to Level 2 of coronavirus restrictions on May 17, the First Minister told a Scottish Government coronavirus briefing.

Moray is expected to remain in Level 3 following a surge in cases and an increase in hospital admissions.

In the rest of the mainland, six people from three households will be able to meet indoors, the same number can meet in a hospitality venue and eight people from eight houses can meet outdoors.

Nicola Sturgeon LIVE

People in Scotland will be able to hug their loved ones from Monday, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The First Minister said on Tuesday at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh that social distancing during meetings indoors or in private gardens will be dropped.

“I actually feel a wee bit emotional saying this, from Monday, as long as you stay within permitted limits, you can hug your loved ones again,” she said.

But the First Minister said it remains “vital to be cautious”, saying that dropping social distancing will be reviewed for all situations in the coming weeks.

Caution should also be used where a vulnerable person is involved, the First Minister said.

Ms Sturgeon also announced the Scottish Government would go further on easing restrictions, allowing six people from three households to meet indoors.

Nicola Sturgeon LIVE

Scotland’s islands will move to Level 1 due to vaccination coverage and low case numbers.

Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, all islands in the Highland Council area with the exception of Skye and the islands in the Argyll and Bute area are affected.

Nicola Sturgeon LIVR

Case numbers in Moray are more than four times higher than in the rest of the country, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

“It’s against that backdrop that, unless the situation was to materially improve over the next few days, it would simply not be safe or sensible to ease restrictions there from Monday,” she said.

As well as Moray remaining in Level 3, the First Minister said the region would see travel restrictions reimposed to ensure cases do not rise in other areas of the country.

“This will mean that travel in and out of Moray will be limited to permitted purposes only,” she added.

Nicola Sturgeon LIVE

The “huge success” of the vaccination programme along with compliance with restrictions has meant Scotland’s coronavirus figures have continued to fall, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

In the last three weeks, the First Minister said, case numbers have dropped from an average of 226 per day to 177 per day.

However, a very slight increase across the country has been logged, mainly due to the outbreak in Moray, the First Minister said.

“The situation in Moray, together with the emergence of new variants globally, should be a sharp reminder to all of us that the virus remains a real threat,” the First Minister said.

People in Scotland will be able to hug loved ones again from Monday, subject to restrictions, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Coronavirus Scotland: Where is Moray, why is it pronounced Murray, how bad is the covid outbreak, will Nicola Sturgeon lift restrictions?

Nicola Sturgeon LIVE

A “significant IT issue” has meant the First Minister was not able to report daily coronavirus figures on Tuesday.

Speaking at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh, Nicola Sturgeon said: “Usually at this point I would update you on the daily statistics.

“Unfortunately, I am not able to do that right now due to a significant IT issue affecting Public Health Scotland this morning.

“I hope that will be resolved soon and I can assure you that all of today’s figures will be published just as quickly as possible, and you will be able to access them when they are published on the Scottish Government website.”

Most of Scotland will move to Level 2 from next week, the First Minister has  announced.

Moray will remain in Level 3 following a surge in cases and an increase in hospital admissions.

In the rest of the country, four people from two households will be able to meet indoors, six people from three households will be able to meet in a hospitality venue and eight people from eight houses will meet outdoors.

Nicola Sturgeon announced the changes on Tuesday, ahead of them coming into effect from May 17.

Indoor visiting to resume in Scotland from Monday

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