Level restrictions Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon to announce further May 17 coronavirus easing on Tuesday, what will she say, how can you watch, what are the latest covid rules

Nicola Sturgeon is due to make an announcement on Tuesday to update Scotland on the latest coronavirus restrictions and whether the next stage of easing will go ahead as planned.

It was expected that the First Minister was going to announce that all of Scotland would move into Level 2 from May 17, however a surge in cases in Moray has presented a situation which the Scottish government has said it is “closely monitoring”.

The figures in the rest of the country are more promising, with 200 cases being recorded on Saturday and only one death being recorded in the last week.

Ms Sturgeon said on Sunday that she plans to meet with clinical advisors today, Monday, May 10, and a final decision on the next stage will be announced on Tuesday.

What is set to be permitted from May 17

In Level 2 up to four people from two households can socialise indoors in a private home.

Restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars can open indoors until 22:30 with two hour pre-booked slots, and cinemas, theatres, comedy clubs, amusement arcades and bingo halls can open.

Up to six adults from three households are allowed to meet in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant, and up to eight adults for eight households can meet outdoors.

Nicola Sturgeon is set to announce further coronavirus restriction easing from May 17. (Picture credit: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

Children under the age of 12 do not count towards the total group number in an outdoor setting, but they are included in the total number in an indoor setting.

Up to 50 people can attend weddings and funerals.

All retailers can operate in Level 2, and all holiday accommodation such as hotels, self-catering accommodation and campsites, can also open.

Nicola Sturgeon to announce further coronavirus easing on Tuesday. (Picture credit: Colin Mearns/The Herald/POOL)

What will remain closed in Level 2

There are a number of places which are not permitted to reopen in Level 2, including: Soft play, funfairs, indoor bowling, snooker/pool halls and nightclubs.

What is happening in Moray?

NHS Grampian is battling an “uncontrolled” outbreak in Moray, and the Scottish Government warned on Friday that it would “closely monitor” the situation ahead of any move to level 2.

The health board was forced to issue an announcement over the weekend that the outbreak has not been caused by people faking positive lateral flow tests using tomato ketchup.

It asked locals to ignore “rumour and hearsay” which had been spreading on social media, and stressed that lateral flow tests are confirmed by gold-standard PCR tests.

NHS Grampian has urgently rolled out Covid-19 vaccines to under 40s, and recorded record numbers of first doses on Saturday.

A total of 1,581 first doses were delivered, almost triple the number given the day before and far outstripping the number of first doses on the previous Saturday, at just 25.

When is the briefing and how can you watch

The briefing will begin shortly after 12pm and will be available to stream via the Scotsman live stream and the Scottish government twitter feed.

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