Hairdressers to reopen in early April as Nicola Sturgeon sets out timetable for further easing of lockdown
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Hairdressers and garden centres are set to reopen early next month as part of a timetable for easing Scotland's lockdown set out today by Nicola Sturgeon.
From the end of April the hospitality sector will be able to reopen outdoors for alcohol, as well as potentially opening indoors for non-alcohol service.
The First Minister told the Scottish Parliament that she hopes the country can move down to level one restrictions by early June.
“Thanks to the sacrifices we all made three months ago, and the success of the vaccination programme, we are now in a much better and brighter position, with well-earned optimism as we look ahead to the summer," Ms Sturgeon said.
She explained that the "stay at home" regulations will be lifted on April 2 and replaced with guidance to "stay local", with more services including hairdressers, garden centres and non-essential click-and-collect services able to open from April 5.
More college students will also return to on-campus learning and outdoor contact sports will resume for 12 to 17-year-olds on April 5 if progress on vaccination and suppression of the virus continues.
The Scottish Government then hopes to lift all restrictions on journeys in mainland Scotland on April 26.
Vaccination of all nine priority groups – more than half of the population, accounting for 99 per cent of Covid-related fatalities – is expected to be completed by mid-April, supplies allowing.
Ms Sturgeon said the dates she was outlining were made possible by strong new evidence suggesting vaccines reduce the chances of transmitting the virus as well as reducing serious illness and death, even after a first dose.
Further expected easing on April 26 includes:
- All retail premises, libraries, museums and galleries, tourist accommodation will be able to open
- The hospitality sector will be able to reopen outdoors for service of alcohol, and potentially open indoors for non-alcohol service
- Up to four people from two households could be able to socialise indoors in a public place such as a café or restaurant
- Six people from up to three households could be able to meet outdoors, and the limit on wedding and funeral attendance could be raised to 50 people
- Gyms and swimming pools will be open for individual exercise and non-essential childcare will be permitted
- Non-essential work in people’s homes and driving lessons could resume from this date
On May 17, it is hoped that groups of four people from two households will be able to socialise indoors in a private home, and that cinemas, amusement arcades and small-scale outdoor and indoor events can restart with limits on capacity. Further easing on this date will include outdoor contact sport for adults and indoor group exercise.
The First Minister also indicated that in early June it is hoped that Scotland can move to level one restrictions and by the end of June to level zero.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Vaccination is already having a significant impact on the number of deaths in Scotland, and research is giving us more confidence in its effects against new variants and in helping prevent transmission. That gives us more confidence in setting possible dates for our next steps out of lockdown in addition to the significant changes set out last week to allow more socialisation, and get children back to school as soon as possible.
“It is not possible to provide specific dates or details for coming out of lockdown beyond May 17 – that will depend on what impact there is from the changes already made. However, my hope and ambition is that from early June all of Scotland will effectively be in level one of the levels system, allowing for a further easing of restrictions – and possibly moving to level zero in late June.
“That is not the endpoint – we hope and expect that vaccination, better treatments, continued use of the Test and Protect system and proportionate ongoing precautions such as good hand hygiene will allow us to keep Covid under much greater control. This will allow us to enjoy many of the things that we took for granted before the pandemic – normal family gatherings where we can hug our loved ones, sporting events, gigs and nightclubs.
"I cannot set a date for that point yet, but I do believe that over the coming weeks as more and more adults are vaccinated it will be possible to set a firmer date by which many of these normal things will be possible, and I am very optimistic that this date will be over the summer.
"We are getting the virus under control, but it is still dangerous, and to reach these dates it’s more important than ever now to stay within the rules – until April 2 stay at home, except for essential purposes; don’t meet people from other households indoors; and follow the FACTS advice when out and about.”
Grants of up to £7500 for retailers and up to £19,500 for hospitality and leisure businesses will be paid in April to help businesses reopen progressively. Ms Sturgeon explained that these one-off restart grants will replace ongoing Strategic Framework Business Fund (SFBF) payments and will provide more money up front to help with reopening costs.
Eligible businesses must have applied to the SFBF by March 22 in order to receive these payments. The last four-weekly SFBF payment of up to £3000 will be paid on March 22, as scheduled. Targeted restart grants for businesses that are not in scope for the current SFBF support package may be considered if the Scottish Government receives further consequentials from the UK government.
