Everything you will be able to do in Scotland as Phase Two begins and lockdown eases

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scotland will enter “Phase 2” of the government’s lockdown plan.

It will mean many of the restrictions currently in place will be eased, allowing more businesses to restart operations, and greater personal freedoms for people keen to visit each other.

So this is what you will be able to do in Scotland in Phase 2.

Meeting other people

A bride, groom and their guests at the wedding reception outside

Two separate households will be able to meet outdoors in larger numbers. Currently the maximum number of people in an outdoor gathering is eight.

While the new limit is yet to be announced, physical distancing measures will still need to be maintained.

Working

While remote working will remain the default option for most Scots, in Phase 2, a greater number of jobs will be allowed to return to normal, including on-campus lab research, and non-office indoor work, like in factories and warehouses.

A passenger wearing a face mask after disembarking off a train. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Again, physical distancing measures will still have to be observed for those returning to work.

Public transport

Bus, tram, and train timetables will increase the capacity of public transport as more people return to work, but there will still be limits as people are made to observe physical distancing while travelling.

People will be discouraged from travelling at peak times, and face coverings will be made compulsory at all times on public transport from Monday.

Shopping and recreation

Small shops and outdoor markets will be allowed to reopen from Monday 29 June, as well as playgrounds.

But there is no change to the five mile limit for travelling for exercise.

Places of worship will reopen for private prayer from that date, but full scale ceremonies will not yet be allowed. Marriages and civil partnerships will be allowed to take place, but only with a limited number of guests in attendance.

Relatives will also be able to visit care homes for the first time since the lockdown started, though this will only happen in a phased manner.

What needs to happen for us to enter Phase 2?

Phase two of lifting lockdown in Scotland will begin once the transmission rate, known as the R number, is "consistently" below one, and the six criteria set out by the World Health Organisation for easing restrictions have been met.

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