Nicola Sturgeon unveils 'most significant milestone yet' in lockdown exit

Scots will be allowed to visit other households and even stay overnight with them as the country enters the "most significant milestone yet" in its exit from Coronavirus lockdown.

Nicola Sturgeon: "Most significant milestone yet"

Nicola Sturgeon announced that up to three different households can now get together indoors, as the country moves into phase 3 of lockdown.

The SNP leader also told MSPs in a Holyrood statement that couples who do not live together will no longer have to physically distance from Friday.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed that pubs, restaurants and cafes will reopen indoors from July 15, while hairdressers will also return on the same date. Churches and other places of worship can reopen for services from next week.

So far in Scotland, people living alone have been able to form "extended households" with one other, but the latest changes mean that bigger gatherings of up to eight will be allowed indoors.

The First Minister announced today that a maximum of 15 people from up to five different households will be allowed to meet outdoors, as long as they stay two metre apart.

"Today’s statement marks the most significant milestone yet in Scotland’s emergence from lockdown," Ms Sturgeon told MSPs.

She added: "I must stress, though, that this is one of the highest risk changes we have made so far.

"We know that the risk of transmitting the virus indoors is significantly higher than it is outdoors.

"So it is essential that we all take great care and strictly follow all of the public health advice."

Between indoors and outdoors activity, adults should not meet with people from any more than 4 different household in any single day.

Ms Sturgeon added: "From tomorrow, we will change the guidance so that people who are part of a non-cohabiting couple - regardless of their living arrangements - no longer need to stay physically distant from each other, indoors or outdoors."

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