First Minister’s Update on Changes to Covid-19 Restrictions

Today the First Minister gave an update on changes to COVID-19 restrictions which come into effect from Monday (26 April). Read the full statement here.

Hospitality venues such as cafés, pubs and restaurants can reopen, along with tourist accommodation, and non-essential retail outlets and close contact services such as beauty salons can also reopen, along with indoor attractions and public buildings such as galleries, museums and libraries.

All parts of the country will move to Level 3 from the same date and remaining travel restrictions within Scotland will be lifted and travel within the UK will be permitted for any purpose. 

Updated guidance on the collection of customer and visitor contact details for businesses and other establishments to assist contact tracing has been published.

Guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector, including procedures for staff and customer safety and an operations checklist, has been published ahead of the 26 April reopening. Guidance covering Wedding receptions and funeral wakes is also included.

Updated guidance on face coverings and face masks has also been published. The guidance includes information on face coverings in the workplace and additional information for businesses or operators carrying out close contact work. In addition, a general advice card for everyone at workhas been published and a specific advice card for those working in the waste sector providing guidance for managers and workers is also now available.