Scotland moves to Level 0 today!

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that Scotland moves down to level zero restrictions from today, Monday 19 July.

The First Minister told the Scottish Parliament the vaccination programme meant restrictions could be eased as planned, but with some modifications.

Face masks will remain mandatory in public indoor settings, and the gradual return to office work has been delayed until 9 August.

What are the rules in level 0?

You can meet socially in groups:

• of up to eight people from three households in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight
• of up to 10 people from four households in an indoor public place like a cafe, pub or restaurant
• of up to 15 people from 15 households outdoors
• under-12s do not count towards the total number of people or households meeting outside, but count towards the household numbers indoors.
• You do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home
• Social distancing reduced to one metre in public indoor settings
• You can travel anywhere in Scotland without restrictions
• You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries
• You can provide informal childcare, for example to look after a grandchild
• Up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals
• Tradespeople can carry out any work in your home such as painting, decorating or repairing

What can open in level 0?

• Cafes, pubs and restaurants – with pubs closing at midnight
• All shops and stores
• All close-contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons
• All sport and exercise
• Tourist accommodation
• All visitor attractions
• All public buildings such as libraries and community centres
• All entertainment (apart from nightclubs and adult entertainment)
• Stadiums and events – with capacity limits of 2,000 seated or 1,000 standing

Modified restrictions

• For the next three weeks at least, there will be a requirement for one-metre distancing between different groups of 15 outdoors – despite original plans to scrap the restriction entirely.
• Scotland plans to drop the requirement to self-isolate for a close contact of a Covid-19 case when the country moves beyond level zero.
• Ministers intended to remove the requirement as long as the contact has received both vaccines and had a negative PCR test.

You can find out more here.