NICOLA Sturgeon has confirmed a loosening of lockdown rules to allow up to four adults from two households to socialise outdoors. 

The First Minister said that from Friday, meetings will be possible in any outdoor space, including gardens. 

Young people between the ages of 12 and 17 will be able to meet up with four people from four different households. 

Meanwhile, communal worship will be able to restart from Friday, March 26 – in time for Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.

Ms Sturgeon also said outdoor non-contact sports and organised group exercise will be permitted for all adults, in groups of up to 15 people, from Friday.

She announced the changes during an update to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. 

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She said: "We realise that meeting up - even outdoors - can be hugely beneficial to our wellbeing.

"From Friday, therefore, we intend to relax the law so that up to four adults from up to two households will be able to meet outdoors.

"And, in addition, we will make clear in our guidance that this will allow for social and recreational purposes, as well as essential exercise.

"Meeting will be possible in any outdoor space, including private gardens."

Ms Sturgeon urged people to stick to the rules and to "only go indoors if that is essential in order to reach a back garden, or to use the toilet".

She also asked people to stay as close to home as possible.

She added: "We hope to be in a position to relax - at least to some extent - travel restrictions within Scotland in the weeks ahead, but it is not safe to do so just yet.

"For young people aged 12 to 17 we want to be even more flexible, to
enable more interaction with friends.

"So for 12 to 17 year olds, outdoor meetings will also be limited to a maximum of four people. But the two household limit won’t apply.

"That means four friends from four different families will be able to get together outdoors.

"This will hopefully allow young people to see more of their friends than is currently the case.

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"We are also proposing some changes to the rules on outdoor exercise and activities.

"From Friday, outdoor non-contact sports and organised group exercise will be permitted for all adults, in groups of up to 15 people.

"We will also ensure that there is some flexibility around the travel rules for young people – so that children are not prevented from taking part in sport, if for example they belong to a club which is a bit outside their local authority area."

Ms Sturgeon added: "The other careful change which we feel able to make, at this stage, relates to places of worship.

"I can confirm that, assuming no deterioration in the situation with the virus between now and then, we intend to allow communal worship to restart from Friday, March 26.

"This is in time for Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.

"In addition, the limit on attendance at communal services will be increased from 20, which was the limit in place before lockdown, to 50 - assuming of course that a place of worship is spacious enough to accommodate that many people with 2 metre physical distancing.

"I know that the restrictions on communal worship have been difficult for many people, despite the exceptional efforts made by faith groups to reach out to their communities.

"This change is a proportionate step, which we believe can be achieved relatively safely, and which will hopefully enable more people to draw strength, comfort and inspiration from acts of collective worship."