Sturgeon to announce if Scotland will move to level zero

Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce whether Scotland will move down to level zero.

On Tuesday, the First Minister will update the Scottish Parliament on whether coronavirus restrictions will be eased further in Scotland on July 19.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that legal restrictions will be lifted on July 19 in England, despite encouraging people to be cautious and wear face masks in crowded areas.

Last week, Sturgeon called for “care and caution” as coronavirus case numbers continued to rise in Scotland.

On June 30, almost 4000 new cases were reported, the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases reported since the start of the pandemic.

However, the First Minister was optimistic that the roll out of the vaccination programme was “offering us an alternative way forward”.

Under level zero restrictions in Scotland, up to eight people from four households can enter homes and stay overnight and up to ten people from four households can meet in an indoor public place such as a bar or restaurant.

Up to 200 people will be allowed to attend weddings and funerals and the need to physically distance outdoors will be removed, with physical distancing for indoor public places reduced to one metre if data allows.

Some islands in Scotland are already in level zero, including Orkney, Shetland, Coll, Colonsay, Erraid, Gometra, Iona, Islay, Jura, Mull, Oronsay, Tiree and Ulva, as well as Na h-Eileanan Siar and all Highlands Islands with the exception of Skye.

Following the timetable set out by the Scottish Government, all major restrictions could be lifted by August 9.