Pubs, hairdressers and cinemas open in Scotland from 15 July
Pubs, hairdressers and cinemas will be able to open from 15 July if coronavirus continues to decline in Scotland, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has announced.
Addressing MSPs in the Scottish parliament, she revealed dates for the easing of lockdown restrictions, including plans for different households to be able to meet indoors next month.
The first minister said while the pace of easing lockdown in Scotland is “slower than England’s”, it is “right for our circumstances and, I hope, more likely to be sustainable than if we went faster”.
Laying out an updated route map out of lockdown, Ms Sturgeon said from 3 July travel distance restrictions – with people forced to stay within five miles of their home for recreation – will be relaxed and self-catering accommodation will be able to open.
From 6 July, outdoor hospitality areas such as beer gardens will be able to open.
If Covid-19 cases continue to reduce, Scotland will enter phase three of lockdown on 9 July.
From 10 July, people can meet in extended groups outdoors, with physical distancing and households can meet indoors with up to a maximum of two households, with physical distancing.
From 13 July, organised outdoor sports for children will resume and nonessential shops within indoor shopping centres will reopen.
The tourism sector and all holiday accommodation will then be able to reopen from 15 July.
Pubs and restaurants will also be able to open on the same date, subject to physical distancing measures along with “a number of conditions” being followed, Ms Sturgeon said.
To applause from MSPs in the chamber, she said barbers and hairdressers will also be able to open from 15 July.
The first minister warned if the Covid-19 virus begins to take hold again then the move out of lockdown “will be halted”.
She said: “Our challenge – not an easy one – is to manage all of this change while keeping the virus firmly under control.
“If at any stage there appears to be a risk of its resurgence, our path out of lockdown will be halted and we may even have to go backwards.
“To avoid that, we must get as close as possible to elimination of the virus now and build confidence in our ability to control it in future through surveillance, testing, contact tracing and, where necessary, targeted suppression measures.”
