The easing of coronavirus restrictions has been paused for millions in Scotland, but rules will be relaxed within Glasgow from Saturday
Most of the country had been due to take the step down to level one in the Scottish five-tier system from next week.
But Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that 13 council areas would be staying in level two due to rising case rates.
Those 13 areas will be joined by Glasgow, which had been the only part of the country still in level three.
Many areas within both the northern and southern parts of the country will still move to level one as planned, with island communities including Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles in level zero.
The first minister said that a “slight slowing down” of the easing of lockdown restrictions was needed while vaccination continues – but described it as “a pause, not a step backwards”.
Glasgow will enter level two on Saturday, allowing six people from three households to meet up indoors for the first time in many months.
This comes after ministers have backtracked over local travel advice for eight areas worst hit by the Indian Covid variant, after a change in advice led to confusion. The amended advice has asked people to minimise their travel into and out of the eight areas that are: Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside.
Pubs and restaurants in the country will be permitted to sell alcohol inside, and the travel ban between Glasgow and other parts of Scotland will also be lifted.
Thirteen council areas, with a combined population of more than 2.3 million people, will stay in level two while local case numbers are high and vaccines are still being rolled out.
These areas – which all have case rates above 50 per 100,000 people – are: Edinburgh; Dundee; Stirling; Midlothian; East Dunbartonshire; Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire; Clackmannanshire; North and South Lanarkshire; and North, South and East Ayrshire.
With the addition of Glasgow, it means just under three million people will be subject to level two restrictions.
Ms Sturgeon said she knew it would be “very disappointing” for the people in these areas, but said: “Taking a cautious approach now – while more people get fully vaccinated – gives us the best chance of staying on the right track overall.”
The rest of mainland Scotland will be moving to level one on 5 June, which means eight people from three households can meet indoors and 12 people from 12 households can meet outdoors.
Soft play centres and funfairs are allowed to reopen and 100 people are allowed to attend weddings or funerals.
Most of Scotland’s island communities, including Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, will move from level one to level zero.
This comes after UK house prices have increased by 10.9% in the year up to May, the highest level seen in seven years, according to the Nationwide. The average house prices in the UK has risen to £242,832, an increase of £23,930 over the past year.
This will allow people to meet up in greater numbers, although Ms Sturgeon said people from the mainland should take a Covid-19 test before travelling there.
The first minister told MSPs that she was “optimistic about our chances of much more normality over the summer and beyond” as the vaccine programme continues, but said a careful approach was still needed due to new variants of the virus.
She said: “I appreciate that today’s decisions will feel like a mixed bag. That reflects the fact we are now in a transition phase.
“The vaccines make the outlook positive, but the new variant means the road ahead is still potentially bumpy – so caution is necessary.”
