Scots to be allowed to hug again as Sturgeon scraps distancing in homes and gardens

Scots will be permitted to hug their loved ones for the first time in more than a year from Monday, after Nicola Sturgeon announced that social distancing would be scrapped in homes and gardens.

The First Minister said she felt "a wee bit emotional" as she revealed that the successful suppression of Covid-19 meant that she could speed up Scotland’s exit from lockdown and relax curbs on physical contact.

Indoor visits to other people's homes, including overnight stays, will also be permitted from next week after eight months.

Meanwhile, a ban on foreign travel will be lifted from Monday, with Scotland signing up to the UK Government’s “traffic lights” system, under a plan for easing of lockdown rules that largely mirrors Boris Johnson’s approach for England.

Ms Sturgeon urged the public to use “careful judgement” in deciding who and how many people to hug.

The lifting of distancing rules will only apply in private residences initially, meaning it would still be against the rules to hug in a park, beach, pub or restaurant.

However, a review has been ordered into the need for physical distancing elsewhere, with a view to potentially relaxing rules more widely.

The announcements were largely welcomed by businesses, although it was warned that some sectors remained "gridlocked in uncertainty".

Ms Sturgeon was urged to declare Scotland "open for business", and reopen offices in town and city centres, as soon as possible.

Hospitality venues will also be able to serve alcohol indoors from Monday until 10:30pm, when the country moves to level two curbs, with indoor and outdoor events also to get the green light.

It had previously been anticipated that restrictions on distancing would remain in place until at least next month. Up to six people from three households will be able to meet in homes, a higher limit than had been expected, with up to eight adults from eight different households allowed to meet outdoors.

Ms Sturgeon said that the success of the vaccination programme and high public compliance with rules meant Scotland was in a “very positive” place in its battle against Covid-19.

This meant it was now possible to “restore much more normality to our everyday lives,” she said, at her first coronavirus briefing since she easily won last week's Holyrood election.

The easing of restrictions from Monday is not expected to apply to Moray, due to a local outbreak, although island communities will see go straight into level one meaning further relaxations for hospitality, events and outdoor meetings.

The First Minister said that despite easing restrictions on international travel, she was still advising people to “think seriously” about whether to book a foreign holiday.

The Scottish list for red, amber and green countries would initially be the same as England’s.

However, Ms Sturgeon said future UK Government changes to classifications would not automatically apply north of the border and that she “reserves the right” to take a more cautious approach, particularly when applying green status to countries.

Those arriving back from a green list country, which currently include Portugal and Australia, will not have to quarantine upon return. People coming back from an amber country - currently much of Europe - will have to isolate at home for 10 days.

Only those arriving from red list countries will have to pay for a quarantine hotel. “This decision means that, as of now, we have a consistent four nations position on international travel - I think that's positive," Ms Sturgeon said.

"It has been made possible because the decisions the UK Government has arrived at are appropriately cautious - I hope this continues to be the case but I need to stress that the Scottish Government will continue to take the decision we consider to be right for Scotland.”

Announcing that physical contact will be allowed again, she said: “"I actually feel a wee bit emotional saying this, from Monday, as long as you stay within permitted limits, you can hug your loved ones again.

“Please use careful judgement at close physical contact does still carry risk. So if you have loved ones who are vulnerable for any reason, please still be careful and limit the overall number of people that you're choosing to have close physical contact with.”

Business and transport leaders welcomed the steps but called for remaining sectors to be reopened as quickly as possible.

Ms Sturgeon said she would agree to meet with nightclub bosses, who still have no indication of when they will be able to resume operating after more than a year of closure.

Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “Specifically, we need to see the Scottish Government pick up the pace on the re-opening of offices in our towns and city centres.

“This would not only support the health and wellbeing of our employees but would also support the recovery and restart of our vibrant cities and towns.”

Dr Cameron also called for tourism businesses to be compensated after Ms Sturgeon advised against international travel, despite lifting the ban.

She added: “We urge the Scottish Government to work with industry to kickstart international travel safely and show that Scotland is open for business.”

The tourism and aviation sectors expressed relief that Ms Sturgeon had backed down over her threat to ban summer holidays and signed up to a UK-wide plan for international travel.

Marc Crothall, CEO Scottish Tourism Alliance said: !The news that Scotland has adopted a four nations approach to travel is an important step in the right direction; the loss of inbound travel has had a critical impact on so many businesses across different sectors within Scotland’s tourism industry and I know that there will be some relief for many today.

“However, we must now move forward with a plan for more affordable testing for those coming into the country and a timescale for the introduction of digital vaccine passports for other countries and indeed, a robust plan for encouraging inbound travel.”