Updated Route Map - Scotland starts to re-open

Provisional dates for the relaxation of travel restrictions, restarting of the hospitality industry and reopening of hairdressers are among further route map measures announced today by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Setting out indicative dates, the First Minister stressed that while sustained progress has been made to suppress coronavirus (COVID-19), the changes remain contingent on scientific and public health advice.

Physical distancing of 2 metres continues to be required in Scotland. The First Minister confirmed that the Scientific Advisory Group is providing advice on higher transmission risk settings and physical distancing and that she will provide a further update on 2 July, ahead of the proposed dates for re-opening hospitality.

Detailed sectoral guidance will be published ahead of indicative dates and the Scottish Government will join with the retail sector in a campaign to encourage the use of face coverings in all shops.

Indicative early Phase 3 dates announced today are intended to give businesses time to prepare for reopening while adhering to public health and physical distancing measures to protect workers and customers.

Final decisions on moving into Phase 3 will be taken in line with the statutory three-weekly review cycle, due on 9 July.

Indicative Phase 2 dates:

3 July – Travel distance limit for leisure will be lifted.
3 July – Self-catering holiday accommodation will be permitted, providing it requires no shared facilities between households.
6 July – Outdoor hospitality can commence subject to the Scientific Advisory Group review.

Indicative Phase 3 dates:

10 July – People can meet in extended groups outdoors, with physical distancing.
10 July – Households can meet indoors with up to a maximum of two households, with physical distancing.
13 July – Organised outdoor contact sport can resume for children and young people, subject to guidance.
13 July – All dental practices begin to see registered patients for non-aerosol routine care, and work will begin to return aerosol generating procedures to practice safely.
13 July – Increasing capacity within community optometry practices for emergency and essential eye care.
13 July – Non-essential shops inside shopping centres can reopen, subject to the Scientific Advisory Group review.
15 July – All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements.
15 July – All holiday accommodation will be permitted.
15 July – Indoor hospitality can reopen, subject to the Scientific Advisory Group review.
15 July – Hairdressers and barbers can reopen with enhanced hygiene measures.
15 July – Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries will reopen with physical distancing and other measures, such as ticketing in advance.

Phase 3 - Advice on dates at 9 July Review (unlikely to be before 23 July)

Non-essential offices and call centres can re-open following implementation of relevant guidance (including on physical distancing). Working from home and working flexibly remain the default

Universities and colleges - phased return with blended model of remote learning and limited on campus learning where a priority. Public health measures (including physical distancing) in place.

Places of worship can re-open for congregational services, communal prayer and contemplation with physical distancing and limited numbers

Easing of restrictions on attendance at funerals, marriages, civil partnerships, with physical distancing (limited numbers).

Following will be subject to further public health advice:

Live events (outdoors) - with physical distancing and restricted numbers.

Live events (indoors) - with physical distancing and restricted numbers.

Indoor gyms - with physical distancing.

Other personal retail services - with enhanced hygiene measures.

Other indoor entertainment venues (e.g. nightclubs, bingo, theatres, music venues).

Schools: 11 August: Schools should be preparing for children to be able to return to school full time in August (conditional upon ongoing scientific and health advice). This date may fall in Phase 3 or Phase 4, depending on broader progress. The blended model of schooling remains a contingency plan.

Shielding: The changes set out here do not apply to people who have been advised to shield. Their advice is to continue to shield until 31 July, although outdoor exercise and meeting people from another household in groups of up to 8 people is allowed, provided people follow strict physical distancing. We will continue to review the evidence leading up to 31 July and will continue to refine the advice as and when clinicians recommend it. By 31 July we will have put in place a new approach to shielding that will support people to make more individual decisions based on an understanding of their own risk profile and what matters to them, rather than blanket advice for the whole population.