Scotland's travel ban lifted as Covid-19 restrictions ease

People across Scotland can now travel between council areas - for the first time since the end of last year.

Travel across council boundaries is now allowed for recreation and exercise - and to meet friends and family outdoors.

Gatherings of up to six people from six different households are now permitted outside, though the public are being encouraged not to start meeting indoors just yet.

But people are being asked to remain in their own area for purposes like shopping.

It is expected that rules on non-essential travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK will be lifted on April 26, when a wider reopening of the economy will go ahead under current plans.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement at a briefing earlier this week (video above).

She said: "We have made significant progress in reducing the number of new Covid cases in Scotland, partly due to the success of the vaccination programme but also because so many people have stuck so well to the rules. Daily cases are at the lowest level since September, and have declined more than 85% since early January.

"After consulting with island communities we have decided to align islands with the rest of Scotland for a period so that travel, and therefore parts of the economy that so many islanders rely on, can operate more normally from April 26.

"Let me reassure those who would have preferred to see the islands move to level two at the end of April that we do expect at least a move to level two to happen on May 17.

"More generally, we currently expect the whole country to move to at least level two on May 17, to level one in early June, and to level zero in late June.

"Reaching level zero is not the extent of our ambitions, and later on in the summer as the number of people who have been vaccinated increases further we hope that a level of normality well beyond level zero will become possible.

"We have always said we will keep plans under review and accelerate the lifting of restrictions if possible. The improved data does not allow us to throw caution to the wind - not if we are sensible - but it does give us a bit of limited headroom. 

"So from the end of this week, you will be able to meet up with family and friends who live in different parts of the country. Many of those reunions will be long-awaited, and much anticipated.

"Please do remember that meetings at this stage must still be outdoors – you cannot socialise in people’s homes – and remember due to physical distancing, public transport capacity remains relatively limited.

"Covid is in retreat in Scotland but it hasn’t gone away - it will come back if we allow it. So we must still exercise care and caution, continue to stick to the rules that are in place, work from home if you can and when you do leave the house, remember FACTS."