Eleven hard hit Covid council areas to have levels reduced
More than two million people who have been living under the strictest Covid-19 protection level for three weeks will have restrictions eased this Friday.
The move follows improvement in the number of new cases in recent weeks in the 11 Level 4 local authority areas which will now drop down to Level 3.
Overall, half of all Scotland’s local authorities will move down a level this coming Friday.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament earlier this afternoon: “The fall in infection rates in these areas – the most highly populated in the country – have contributed to an improvement in the situation across Scotland as a whole.
"All of this puts us in a much better position to cope with the inevitable difficulties of winter.
“However, it does not remove the need for a cautious approach. The risks and challenges of the next few months are clear.
“That is why, in reaching decisions today, we have had to consider the potential overall impact of moving to a lower level of restrictions at the same time as the Christmas period begins in earnest.”
The First Minister also announced that Angus, Inverclyde and Falkirk will drop a level going from 3 to 2.
Finally, Dumfries and Galloway and Borders Councils will drop to Level 1, following significant improvements in suppressing the virus in these two areas.
All other areas remain unchanged in their levels meaning the Highland Council region remains at Level 1.
The easing of restrictions will happen from 6pm on Friday.
However, retail outlets in areas dropping down to Level 3 can re-open from 6am on Friday in a move intended to help stores and shopping centres better manage the flow of customers after the period of closure.
However, the First Minister stressed that travel restrictions remain in place and no-one in a Level 3 area, or - until Friday - a Level 4 area, should travel outside their local authority area, except for essential purposes.
There will also be an easing of restrictions on gathering in homes for islands communities which are not linked by road to the mainland.
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Up to six people from a maximum of two households will be allowed to meet in private homes in Level 1 island communities.
Islands with road links to the mainland, however, will not be included in this relaxation.