Social distancing in Scotland will all but end next week and fully-vaccinated adults will no longer have to isolate if they test negative after contact with a positive case of Covid.
The move will be welcomed by many businesses, particularly in the hospitality and night-time industries that can now fully reopen, although firms that rely on office trade will continue to struggle with working from home remaining the default position.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, suggested that businesses follow the Scottish government’s example and move towards “hybrid” office working.
She confirmed today that the country will move “beyond Level 0” from Monday as case numbers continue to fall and the proportion of people who have received the vaccine increases.
The changes mean that people can meet freely both indoors and outdoors without the need to stay one or two metres apart as almost all of the remaining restrictions are dropped.
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However, some rules will remain in place: masks will still be required by law in shops, when standing in hospitality venues and on public transport. This raises the prospect of people needing to cover their face while dancing in nightclubs.
Events will be limited to crowds of 5,000 outdoors and 2,000 indoors for a “limited period” unless organisers apply for special permission.
Restrictions will remain in schools for at least the first six weeks of the new term, with all pupils over the age of 12 required to wear a face covering and all secondary students, as well as staff, asked to take lateral flow tests twice a week. The need for social distancing of at least one metre between pupils and teachers will also remain in place.
Sturgeon confirmed that SNP ministers are considering making vaccine passports mandatory for entry into certain venues and that an app to carry digital proof of being jabbed should go live next month.
The app will mostly be used for international travel, she said, before adding her ministers “do not underestimate the ethical, equity and human rights issues” associated with domestic vaccine passports.
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Last week, John Swinney, the deputy first minister, said that excluding those who have rejected the vaccine from certain venues was the “wrong way” to push greater numbers of people to get jabbed.
Sturgeon struck a cautious tone as she outlined the changes to MSPs during a recalled session at Holyrood. “Even though the law will not stipulate physical distancing, we will continue to advise the public that — especially indoors — keeping a safe distance from people in other households and avoiding crowded places will minimise risk,” she said.
“We will also engage with businesses — and issue guidance as necessary — to ensure that safe environments for staff and customers are provided, and that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce the risk of outbreaks.”
From August 9, anyone who is pinged as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for the virus will not have to self-isolate for ten days, as long as they have been double-vaccinated and there has been at least two weeks since the second jab.
Instead they will be urged to stay at home until they have taken and been given the results of a PCR test; if negative, they can leave isolation. This means people in Scotland will be freed from isolation before those in England, who have to wait another week for the same freedoms.
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The same rules apply to people aged 17 or under who are not currently eligible for vaccinations. Sturgeon said the Scottish government is ready to roll out jabs to young people if guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation changes.
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, welcomed the easing of restrictions but said the overall announcement was a “mixed bag” for people and businesses.
