First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has announced that people in Scotland are now able to meet members of their family and friends following an ease in the country’s lockdown rules.
Scotland, who did not make changes to lockdown rules earlier this month to coincide with England, have enforced social isolation for the past 66 days. The relaxed rules indicate that groups of up to eight people can meet at any one time, and that members from two households are now permitted to meet, as long as they continue to observe the two metres required for social distancing to take place.
In spite of these changes, Sturgeon has emphasized that wherever possible, people should still endeavour to remain at home. She referred to a "sustained and unmistakable" decrease in the spread of the virus, which ensured these changes could take place.
Deputy, John Swinney, has warned against people abandoning rules completely. He said: "We have had an extraordinary level of public compliance so far and we need to see that sustained as we move through each of the phases going forward.
"If we have any relaxation of adherence to those essential characteristics of our response, then we run the risk of refuelling coronavirus."
This change to policy marks the first phase in the four part “route map” for moving back to relative normality in Scotland. The decision made in Holyrood coincides with the Westminster announcement that people will be able to meet outside as of Monday, so long as they continue to observe social distancing measures.
