Sturgeon warns lockdown easing tomorrow will be 'biggest step so far'

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that “tomorrow marks the biggest step so far in our exit from lockdown”.

Wednesday sees the reopening of the tourism and hospitality sector, albeit with huge changes to safeguard against the transmission of coronavirus.

It includes pubs and restaurants returning, subject to a battery of new regulations, while places of worship can also reopen for congregational services, communal prayer and contemplation.

Restrictions will also be eased on who can attend funerals, marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations – previously it had been largely restricted to immediate family.

On top of that, all holiday accommodation will now be permitted to reopen, as will hairdressers, museums, galleries, cinemas and libraries – all with physical distancing and other measures such as enhanced hygiene.

Childcare providers can start taking care of children again.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I can report that an additional three positive cases were confirmed, which takes the total to 18,368, and a total of 616 patients are currently in hospital with the virus confirmed or suspected – 67 more than yesterday overall.

“As of now and often these things are always subject to change but as of now just two patients are in ICU in the whole Scotland with confirmed Covid-19.

“And I am very pleased to say that during the past 24 hours no deaths were registered for patients confirmed through a test as having Covid-19, so the number of deaths under this measure therefore remains at 2490.

“And it's worth just noting that today is the sixth day in a row in which zero deaths have been registered and it's also the first Monday with no deaths registered since March 10, before lockdown started.

“Thanks again to the health and care workers. The entire country is extremely grateful to you for everything you do and today let me be very clear that includes the care home staff who do us the honour of coming to Scotland from overseas to work here.

“That includes the six to eight per cent of care home workers who come from other countries within the European Union. It is essential that care home workers are included in any scheme for post-Brexit visas.

“The Scottish Government will continue to make strong representations on that point to the UK government.

“Tomorrow sees a further reopening for resumption of many services – in fact tomorrow marks the biggest step so far in our exit from lockdown.

“From tomorrow the tourism sector can reopen, as can venues such as museums, galleries and cinemas, indoor hospitality can start up again, hairdressing services can resume, and the childcare sector will be fully open once again.

“We have published guidance on how places of worship can ensure the safe resumption of congregational services. The detailed information on issues like physical distancing, cleaning and the maximum group size of 50 which we are currently permitting for services."

• Guidance published on safe reopening of places of worship

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