Sturgeon 'nervous' as Scotland begins to move out of lockdown with people urged to obey social distancing and hygiene rules
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged people to put “love, kindness and solidarity” first and obey social distancing and hygiene rules as she confessed to being “nervous” as lockdown restrictions are eased.
The Scottish Government has taken the decision to move into the first phase of its plan to ease lockdown.
From tomorrow a maximum of two households will be permitted to meet up outdoors per day under strict social distancing guidance.
Non-contact outdoor sports – golf, tennis, bowls and fishing – can also restart if people keep a strict two-metre distance from each other and follow strict hygiene practices.
People can sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas, and travel preferably by walking or cycling to nearby locations for recreation.
Drive-through fast food outlets are also no longer discouraged from reopening.
The construction sector can also start work to prepare for resuming operations and garden centres can reopen from Monday.
But at today's coronavirus briefing Ms Sturgeon also warned people against travelling to tourist hotspots.
She said that people must use their judgment and, if a place is crowded, should go elsewhere.
She also said those who are shielding are not impacted by the relaxation but have not been forgotten and will get guidance for their particular needs in the coming weeks.
From Monday, teachers and other staff will be able to enter schools to prepare for the return of classes on August 11 and from Wednesday, childcare will be available to a larger number of children who need it including vulnerable children and children of essential workers.
Childminding services and fully outdoor nursery provision will start to reopen, with limits on the number of children.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The focus of our phase one changes is on outdoor activity and the reason for that is that, as long as people from different household remained two metres apart, don't touch the same surfaces and wash hands and surfaces regularly, the risk of the virus spreading is lower in an outdoor environment than indoors.
"Even so, in making changes at this stage, we have limited room for manoeuvre, so we need to get the balance right."
