Coronavirus / Isles to remain in level zero for at least another three weeks
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said the government is planning for the majority of restrictions being removed on 9 August
SHETLAND will remain under level zero coronavirus restrictions for at least another three weeks.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said in an update in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday that there will be no changes across the whole of Scotland until 19 July.
But she gave an indication as to what life beyond level zero could look like.
The Scottish Government have pinpointed 9 August as a date when most legal coronavirus requirements could be removed.
This could entail, for instance, the removal of social distancing.
The first minister said “at least for a period, we are likely to require continued wearing of face coverings in certain settings – for example, shops and public transport”.
Good hand hygiene, surface cleaning and ventilation would continue to be promoted.
A condition of the 9 August easing is for “over 40s being fully vaccinated”, the government said.
Sturgeon said the next review of restrictions will take place on 19 July, which is when all of Scotland is expected to drop to level zero.
The hope is that by then physical distancing in indoor public places will drop from two metres to one metre when it comes to other households.
On that date the government hopes to lift distancing requirements altogether when outside, and allow any size of groups to socialise informally outdoors.
Sturgeon again stressed caution about rising case numbers in Scotland as the Delta variant becomes dominant.
But she said that the vaccination progress, and its ability to reduce harm, enables the government to plan ahead for easing restrictions.
In Shetland one more case was recorded today (Tuesday) following a cluster of cases largely in the North Mainland.
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