Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Many pub owners are still concerned about the impact of the two metre physical distance rule on their businesses.

Beer gardens can open from 6 July, while indoor pubs will be able to open on 15 July – but at the moment, customers will be required to stay 2m apart.

Image source, Getty Images

Giovanna McDonald, who owns the Taphouse Pub in Glasgow, says the 2m rule will mean many places will not be viable.

She also says there needs to be guidance on safety measures for pubs, as it is not yet clear whether bars will require screens, whether disposable menus will be necessary or even if punters will have to wear masks.

“It’s been so difficult to plan what’s going to happen because the advice is changing really quickly,” she tells Drivetime.

Kenny Hamilton, owner of the Thornwood in Glasgow, says it will be equally important to address people’s anxieties about returning to pubs.

“Building confidence in our consumer, in our customer, is also going to be part of the challenge here,” he says.

Just joining us? Here's a round-up of what's been going on around the UK on this Wednesday.

• People in Scotland will be allowed to meet up with two other households indoors from 10 July and pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and holiday accommodation can all reopen from 15 July
• The Scottish government has set out the dates when it plans to relax more of the lockdown restrictions.
• The number of Covid-related deaths recorded by National Records of Scotland (NRS) has declined for the eighth consecutive week

• Health leaders are calling for an urgent review to determine whether the UK is properly prepared for the "real risk" of a second wave of coronavirus

• Airport handler Swissport is set to cut more than half of its UK workforce as slump in aviation industry continues

And with many going to beaches or beauty spots to enjoy this sunny day, there are warnings for people not to leave hand sanitiser in hot cars, as it can catch fire in hot temperatures. More on that here., external

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Hairdressers and shopping centres have been telling BBC Radio Scotland they are already prepared for reopening after being given a provisional date by Nicola Sturgeon earlier.

Hairdresser Ricardo Corvi of Rainbow Room International says: "We're absolutely delighted and, by the noise of the phones, so are the clients."

He says the requirements are "still a bit vague" but reveals "we had everything in place four or five weeks ago".

That includes thermometers for clients as they enter the shop, full PPE for staff and clients and perspex dividers.

David Pierotti, manager of Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow, says customers arriving on 13 July will find sanitising stations at every entrance, a one-way system, queuing outside and inside stores, increased cleaning and lots of new signage.

"We now have a clear date to work to, but we have been planning for numerous weeks and we've learned from our colleagues within our portfolio in France, England and Ireland," he adds. "We have to understand that customers will be nervous, so we need to adopt a good persona of customer care."

Image source, PA Media

The Scottish government has set out the dates when it plans to relax more of the lockdown restrictions.

They include lifting the five-mile travel limit from 3 July; allowing people to meet other households indoors from 10 July; and reopening pubs, restaurants, holiday accommodation, hairdressers and barbers from 15 July.

A number of rules had already been eased as Scotland entered phase two of the route map out of lockdown, external. So what happens next - and when?

Find out everything you need to know here.

Previously announced Phase 2 measures which will come into operation next Monday include:

• Indoor (non-office) workplaces resume once relevant guidance is implemented. This includes: factories, warehouses, labs and research facilities. But excludes: indoor workplaces due to open in Phase 3 (e.g. non-essential offices and call-centres)
• Street-access retail can reopen once guidance is implemented. Interiors of shopping centres/malls remain closed for non-essential shops until Phase 3
• Outdoor markets can reopen once guidance is implemented
• Relaxation on restrictions on housing moves
• Outdoor sports courts can reopen
• Playgrounds can reopen
• Registration offices open for high priority tasks
• Marriages and civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees, strictly outdoors only
• Zoos and garden attractions can open for local access only (broadly within 5 miles) until 3 July

The Scottish government's updated route map can be found here, external

Many workers have been left penniless, living off food banks, afraid to leave their houses and unable to feed their children after "falling through the cracks" of UK government assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic, BBC Radio Scotland has been told.

A new campaign group, Excluded UK, has been set up to represent what some estimate is about three million people.

Spokeswoman Rachel Flowers said those affected included people who had set up business in the last year, self-employed people who earned 50% or more of their income from other sources, freelancers, company directors and those denied furlough by their employer.

"As the months have gone on, the gaps haven't been fixed and people have become more desperate and many people live month to month," she said. "We did have a Treasury report published last week, which has made a recommendation to urgently fix these problems and highlighted the injustices, but we are still waiting for the government to take action."

The Scottish government has given "indicative dates" for when phase 3 of lockdown easing can be implemented, subject to criteria on virus contriol being met.

• People can meet in extended groups outdoors(with physical distancing) -10 July
• Households can meet indoors with up to a maximum of two other households (with physical distancing) -10 July
• Organised outdoor contact sports can resume for children and young people (subject to guidance) -13 July
• All dental practices begin to see registered patients for non-aerosol routine care. Work will begin to return aerosol generating procedures to practice safely -13 July
• Increasing capacity within community optometry practices for emergency and essential eye care -13 July

Image source, bbc

• Non-essential shops inside shopping centres can re-open (following guidance and with physical distancing) -13 July
• All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance) -15 July
• Indoor hospitality (subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice) -15 July
• Hairdressers and barbers - with enhanced hygiene measures -15 July
• Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries - with physical distancing and other measures (e.g.ticketing in advance) -15 July
• All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements -15 July

Image source, AFP

There has now been 18,191 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Scotland.

New figures show that 2,480 patients in Scotland have died after a positive test for Covid-19, although the actual number of deaths is known to be far higher.

Weekly data published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) shows that up until 21 June there were 4,119 deaths registered in Scotland.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Say goodbye to bad hair days, pop those corks, catch a film and head to the caravan..,soon!

We now have dates for re-opening the leisure sector. But gyms, beauticians, nightclubs and theatres will stay closed.

John will speak to some very happy and some very unhappy businesses.

Image source, Dominion cinema

Life is getting back to normal but it does come with a health warning. Drivetime will hear from doctors who fear a second wave.

Schools are going back full time in August. John speaks to teachers and also asks what this means for non-teaching staff like janitors.

Listen on this live page or on BBC Radio Scotland. Got a view? Text Drivetime on 80295.

The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said Scotland could “invest in a strong recovery” but only with “necessary financial powers”.

During PMQs, he called on the prime minister to act on report recommendations from business leaders to give Scotland more borrowing and economic powers.

Boris Johnson said Scotland had received £3.8bn in coronavirus support, and the UK government would “continue to invest massively in Scotland”.

Mountaineering Scotland, a group representing the interests of walkers, climbers and skiers, has welcomed news of further easing of lockdown restrictions.

The five mile limit on travel for leisure and recreation is due to be relaxed on 3 July.

Mountaineering Scotland has been asking for the restriction to eased to enable more of its 15,000 members to access the hills.

People in Scotland will be allowed to meet up with two other households indoors from 10 July, with social distancing and strict hygiene measures.

That includes overnight stays - so with the travel restriction to be lifted from 3 July that means many reunions for families.

Overnight stays are possible in England from 4 July, meaning a person could stay with family and friends south of the border from then.

Until then, people must only meet with up to two other households (with a maximum eight people) outdoors - unless an extended household has been created.

An extended household allowed single parents and those who live alone to join with another household as if they were one unit from last week.

Previously announced Phase 2 measures which will come into operation next Monday include:

• Indoor (non-office) workplaces resume once relevant guidance is implemented. This includes: factories, warehouses, labs and research facilities. But excludes: indoor workplaces due to open in Phase 3 (e.g. non-essential offices and call-centres)
• Street-access retail can reopen once guidance is implemented. Interiors of shopping centres/malls remain closed for non-essential shops until Phase 3
• Outdoor markets can reopen once guidance is implemented
• Relaxation on restrictions on housing moves
• Outdoor sports courts can reopen
• Playgrounds can reopen
• Registration offices open for high priority tasks
• Marriages and civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees, strictly outdoors only
• Zoos and garden attractions can open for local access only (broadly within 5 miles) until 3 July

The Scottish government's updated route map can be found here, external

Weekly data published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) shows that deaths from Covid-19 in Scotland are continuing to fall, but "excess deaths" have risen slightly on last week and remain at above-average levels for the time of year.

The overall number of deaths has now reached 4,917, with 49 deaths registered between 15-21 June where the disease was mentioned on the death certificate.

The NRS data shows that there have been 4,917 more deaths than would be expected since the outbreak hit Scotland, based on a five-year average.

The first peak in excess deaths was in hospitals and at home and other non-institutional settings, followed by a much higher peak in care homes.

Excess deaths from all causes at home or other non-institutional settings remain at above average levels.

Most of these excess deaths were from cancer, according to the NRS.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

More pre-lockdown freedoms will return from the middle of July, the Scottish government has said.

Here's what to expect - subject to criteria on virus control being met.

• People can meet in extended groups outdoors (with physical distancing) -10 July
• Households can meet indoors with up to a maximum of two other households (with physical distancing) -10 July
• Organised outdoor contact sports can resume for children and young people (subject to guidance) -13 July
• All dental practices begin to see registered patients for non-aerosol routine care. Work will begin to return aerosol generating procedures to practice safely -13 July
• Increasing capacity within community optometry practices for emergency and essential eye care -13 July
• Non-essential shops inside shopping centres can reopen (following guidance and with physical distancing) -13 July
• All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance) -15 July
• Indoor hospitality (subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice) -15 July
• Hairdressers and barbers - with enhanced hygiene measures -15 July
• Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries - with physical distancing and other measures (e.g.ticketing in advance) -15 July
• All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements -15 July

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined a further relaxation of lockdown restrictions from early next month.

Here's a round-up of what will change.

• From 3 July guidance advising people to travel no more than five miles for leisure and recreation will be lifted
• Tourism sector will not open fully until 15 July, however self-contained holiday accommodation with no shared services can open from 3 July
• The advice remains to avoid crowded places
• Measures to protect against imported cases of the virus are being considered
• Outdoor hospitality, such as beer gardens, can reopen from 6 July after guidance on mitigation is put in place
• Move to phase 3 of the route map expected on 9 July

Image source, AFP

EU ambassadors are meeting to discuss plans to reopen external borders on 1 July, and travellers from the US could be among those not allowed in.

A number of European countries are keen to open up to tourists but others are wary of the continued spread of coronavirus.

The 27-member bloc must first agree the measures that non-EU countries should meet before deciding on a safe list.

America continues to report the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, so it is likely it would be barred. Brazil, Russia and other countries with high infection rates would also be left off a safe list, according to reports from Brussels.

Read more here.