Nicola Sturgeon Covid update RECAP: First Minister confirms move to level 0 | Four deaths and 2,529 cases in 24 hours | Covid pressure on NHS is 'of concern'

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scotland will proceed to level 0 next week, but with some modifications to the original plan.
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You can follow all the updates from the First Minister’s briefing, as well as all the day’s other coronavirus news, here.

Scroll down for the latest updates.

Covid Scotland RECAP: The latest updates on the pandemic on Tuesday, July 13

Key Events

  • Scotland will move to level 0 from next week - but with slight modifications, FM says
  • ‘Long covid is still a risk to everyone’
  • Covid cases remaining high is ‘of concern’ to the Scottish Government
  • Four new deaths and 2,529 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours

Face masks will be around for a while...

FM said even when Scotland moves beyond level 0, there will continue to be some “baseline measures such as face coverings.”

She closed her briefing urging Scots to get vaccinated and get tested regularly.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms Scotland will move to Level zero on July 19 - here's what that means for hospitality

What does Level zero mean for pubs and restaurants?

The announcement means the number of people who can meet indoors will rise to eight people from four households, with ten people from four households able to meet in an indoor public place such as a pub.

Under the new rules, 15 people from 15 households will be able to meet outdoors.

Hospitality businesses will be able to open until midnight, meaning most pubs will be back to normal closing hours.

The wearing of masks will still be required when not seated, with Ms Sturgeon confirming that face coverings in public places will be mandatory in Scotland “for some time to come”.

In terms of social distancing, Ms Sturgeon confirmed that one metre distancing will continue to apply.

She said: “In indoor public places - as indicated previously - where there isn’t already a 1m rule in place, the physical distance requirement will reduce from 2m to 1m and will apply between different household groups.”

The one metre distancing will also still apply to outdoor public places, a change from what had been previously planned.

Customers at hospitality businesses won’t be required to pre-book a two hour slot, but they will still be required to provide contact details for Test and Protect.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s speech in full from today’s briefing

Key points from today’s briefing:

- Four new deaths and 2,529 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours

- Scotland will move to level 0 from next week - but with slight modifications

- Covid cases remaining high is ‘of concern’ to the Scottish Government and adding pressure to the NHS

- Self-isolation requirement to be scrapped for double jabbed from August 9

- People coming from amber countries are not required to self-isolate provided they have had both vaccines and have taken a PCR test on the second day after arrival that comes back negative

- Hospitality businesses will be able to open until midnight, meaning most pubs will be back to normal closing hours

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