Further relaxation of Scottish Covid restrictions announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will see people allowed to meet indoors in larger groups

Pubs and restaurants will also be allowed to serve alcohol indoors from Monday.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed a further lifting of restrictions for the whole country.

While some islands are likely to move to level one restrictions on Monday most of mainland Scotland will probably move from level three to level two, with the possible exception of Moray, which has a higher number of Covid cases.

Making the announcement this afternoon Ms Sturgeon 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."

The country will also move to a traffic light system for foreign travel.

Under level two restrictions the following activities will be permitted:

• Up to six people from three households will be able to meet in their homes and can also stay overnight

• Social distancing will also be suspended indoors so people can hug their loved ones

• Alcohol can be served indoors in pubs or restaurants and they can stay open until 10.30pm

• Up to six adults from three households will be able to meet indoors in a public place

• Outdoors up to eight adults from eight different households to gather

• Adult outdoor contact sports and indoor group exercises will be able to resume

• Cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades are also likely to be able to reopen,

• Outdoor and indoor events like concerts can restart with a maximum capacity of 500 people

• Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 250 people

• Small seated indoor events are advised to operate with a maximum of 100 people

Explaining the new system set to govern travel the First Minister said: "This will be informed by risk assessments prepared by the joint biosecurity centre and these assessments will be based on the state of the pandemic in each country across the world – and that will include the presence of variants of concern.

"So if you enter Scotland from a red list country, one of the countries identified as acute risk under our current regulations, you will still be required to enter a managed isolation hotel and stay there for 10 days.

"If you arrive from a country on the amber list – and for now that will be the majority of countries – you must self isolate at home for 10 days and take two PCR tests during that period."

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