Garden centres and drive-through food outlets set to reopen

Garden centres and drive-through food outlets will be allowed to reopen next week as the coronavirus lockdown begins to ease.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans for the first phase of loosening restrictions with friends and family allowed to meet outdoors.

People will also be allowed to sit and parks and take part in some sports so long as social distancing rules are obeyed.

However, they should stay within their local area and travel no more than five miles, preferably by walking or cycling.

While garden centres and plant nurseries can open on May 28, their cafes will still remain closed.

Waste and recycling centres can also resume operation, as well as some other outdoor businesses.

The second phase could see Scots allowed to meet larger groups of family and friends outside, and also meet people from another household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures in place.

At that point pubs and restaurants can also open outdoor spaces such as beer gardens, again with physical distancing and increased hygiene routines.

By phase three, things will “begin to feel closer to normal”.

That will see pubs and restaurants open indoor spaces and “personal retail services” including hairdressers begin to trade again – but all with appropriate distancing and hygiene measures in place.

Phase four will be reached when “the virus remains suppressed to very low levels and is no longer considered a significant threat to public health” – but the document warns the public will have to remain “safety conscious”.

This final phase will see mass gatherings resume, schools and childcare provision “operating with any necessary precautions”, and while working from home and flexible working will still be encouraged “all types of workplaces would be open in line with public health advice”.