Lockdown restrictions in Scotland to ease as 'stay at home' guidance scrapped

Covid lockdown restrictions in Scotland will ease from next week as the "stay at home" guidance is scrapped.

From Monday, April 5, barbers and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen, along with more freedoms for non-essential retail.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the move earlier in March, but on Tuesday confirmed they would be going ahead despite cases "plateauing" rather than continuing to decline.

On Friday, Scots will be encouraged to "stay local" - an easing of the "stay at home" guidance.

Announcing the changes, Ms Sturgeon said: "The stay at home rule is being replaced for the next three weeks at least with a requirement to stay local.

"That means the current travel restrictions, which prevent non-essential travel outside your own local authority area, will remain in place for another three weeks.

"I fully understand how frustrating that is for everybody – I share that frustration – like many of you, my family live in a different local authority to the one I live in, and so like anyone with loved ones in a different part of the country, I desperately want to see them in person."

The latest coronavirus figures in Scotland show 12 deaths and 411 positive tests were recorded in the past 24 hours.

It brings the death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 7,596.

Ms Sturgeon stressed that, despite the continuing rollout of the vaccine, "there are still no grounds for complacency.

"In fact, it is really important right now that while the vaccination programme continues to be rolled out, that all of us remain hyper-vigilant in how we’re going about our daily lives.

"The data suggests that the number of new cases having fallen throughout January and February are now plateauing rather than continuing to decline significantly."

How is Scotland's lockdown easing?

Retail will see rules eased on Monday, with click and collect services allowed to reopen as well as homeware shops and garden centres.

Ms Sturgeon urged caution, however, saying: "We don’t want big crowds at these stores, so although they open from Monday, think about whether you really need to visit on Monday or if you’re able to wait until later in the week."

University and college students can also return for in-person teaching and outdoor contact sports for 12-17-year olds may resume.

Ms Sturgeon said she will give further updates in April but that Scotland is on course to ease restrictions further, with cafes, restaurants, shops and gyms due to open from April 26 and more people allowed to meet up outdoors.