Restrictions loosen in Scotland, but masks remain in place

Restrictions against the coronavirus will be greatly eased in Scotland from Monday, but unlike in England, wearing a mask will remain mandatory, Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday.

• Read also: London confirms lifting of most restrictions on 19 July

• Read also: England plans 2,000 hospitalizations a day

The head of local government in this British province of 5.5 million people wanted to take a more cautious approach than British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The latter confirmed on Monday, with effect from 19 July, the lifting of nearly all health restrictions in England, including masks and social distancing, for the part of the scientific community that fears it may lead to an outbreak of cases of the delta variant . UK.

Thanks to the progress of the vaccination campaign, “we are easing restrictions next week, but we are not giving up,” said Nicola Sturgeon of the independence party SNP.

Social distancing will be reduced to one meter “for at least the next three weeks” for groups in public places, she detailed, although she declined to remove it.

Unlike in England, the requirement to wear masks in closed public places will remain in place in Scotland “for a period” to protect even the most vulnerable.

Telecom will not end “gradually” until August 9, and nightclubs will remain closed.

Without removing it entirely, the rules limiting indoor meetings will be lightened. Eight people from three different households will be able to see each other in private homes and ten people from four homes in closed public places such as pubs – whose closing hours will be changed from 11 pm to midnight.

For travelers from “orange” countries, especially major tourist destinations such as France or Spain, they will no longer be subject to quarantine upon arrival in Scotland if they have been fully vaccinated.

In the United Kingdom, each nation sets its own timetable in the event of a health crisis. Like Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have opted to lift restrictions more slowly.