Image source, Iain Ponton

Iain Ponton, owner of Oz Bar in Edinburgh's city centre, said he was allowing 50 people into his pub when normally more than 100 could fit inside.

He said: "We will open at 13:00 on Wednesday. I'm a bit nervous as I'm not sure how it is going to go but every thing is now in place to reopen."

In Dundee, the sight of a barman in a protective visor will be the new normal at the Phoenix bar. Owner Alan Bannerman said he was "slightly apprehensive" about reopening after four months.

He said: "I love this pub. I've been here for 33 years, every painting on the wall, everything is down to me, it's like my own wee bairn."

Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopen

Image source, PA Media

Tony Mann opened his barber shop in Giffnock just after midnight, and plans to cut hair for the entire day.

He told the BBC: "For the next 24 hours, I'm going to stand here and do what I do best."

Mr Mann, who first opened his barbers in 2014, said the midnight opening was a way of offering loyal customers a haircut as soon as possible.

He said it had been stressful preparing his shop to be "Covid-secure", but it was very important to do so.

Image source, PA Media

The first minister has urged people to willingly provide their contact details as Scotland eases its lockdown restrictions.

The country's bars, restaurants and tourism sector have reopened for the first time since March.

Hairdressers and barbers have also resumed trading.

But as part of the NHS Test and Protect scheme all customers will be asked to provide their name and a phone number.

Read more here.

• Hairdressers and barbers have reopened - with enhanced hygiene measures
• Indoor hospitality in pubs and restaurants returns on "a limited basis" and subject to several conditions
• Places of worship can now re-open for congregational services,communal prayer and contemplation
• Easing of restrictions on attendance at funerals, marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations

Image source, Frances Anderson

• Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries can reopen - with physical distancing and other measures
• All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements
• All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance)

What are the other changes to the lockdown rules? Find out here.

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

'Staycation' is the buzzword for holidaymakers as lockdown eases and Visit Scotland is looking to cash in by today launching a campaign aimed at persuading people to enjoy their homeland.

Director of marketing Vicki Miller tells BBC Radio Scotland that she believes communities are beginning to shrug off their fears about visitors importing cases of coronavirus.

"The sentiment of the campaign is why Scotland needs you and why you need Scotland," she says.

"I think there has been anxiety from a public health perspective and we understand those anxieties, but actually what we are seeing now is communities ready to welcome visitors back and actually going the extra mile to do so.

"They understand the importance of tourism to local economies and as a force for good."

Ms Miller says communities are developing a visitor pledge, asking visitors to be responsible, be considerate of local people and the environment, to follow public health guidance and, if they do all of that, they "will have a great experience".

An appeal to help the world's most vulnerable through the coronavirus pandemic has been launched by the UK's Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

Fourteen charities - including Oxfam, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and the British Red Cross - will join together to ask the British public to donate.

The UK government will double the first £5m of donations.

Much of the money will go to refugee camps, where overcrowding and poor sanitation allows the virus to spread.

DEC's website, external provides more details of its coronavirus appeal and its other current appeals.

Image source, Aberdeen Harbour Board

Completion of the £350m expansion of Aberdeen Harbour has been delayed until 2022 due to the impact of coronavirus.

Aberdeen Harbour Board has said between six and eight months has been added to the construction timescale.

It is hoped elements of the South Harbour expansion will be able to open next year, but full completion is now not expected until 2022.

The work is aimed at allowing cruise ship access, space for renewables infrastructure, and decommissioning.

Read more

The first minister says we are taking the "biggest step so far" in the relaxation of coronavirus measures, which brings with it the greatest risk for a potential resurgence of the virus.

Nicola Sturgeon stressed again people must rigorously and rigidly all public health guidance, including following the five pieces of advice in FACTS:

They are:

• Face coverings in enclosed spaces
• Avoid crowded places
• Clean hands and surfaces regularly
• Two metre distancing; and
• Self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms.

Nicola Sturgeon says today is the "biggest step so far" in the relaxation of coronavirus measures, which brings with it the greatest risk for a potential resurgence of the virus.

Here are the changes that have come in today:

• Indoor hospitality in pubs and restaurants will return on "a limited basis" and subject to several conditions
• Places of worship can re-open for congregational services,communal prayer and contemplation
• Easing of restrictions on attendance at funerals, marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations

• All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance

Image source, Getty Images

• Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries can reopen - with physical distancing and other measures
• All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements
• Hairdressers and barbers will be able to reopen - with enhanced hygiene measures - guidance will be published later this week

Which lockdown rules will change next - and when?

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Stephen Walker thanks Cat Harvey for the commercial, when she said now was probably the best time to get a deal on a visit to Edinburgh.

The director of sales and marketing at the Balmoral jokes he won't rule out mates rates for the travel journalist.

He explains the Balmoral is not opening today and explains by announcing it would open on the first of August they have a clearer path to their return.

Image source, bbc

Mr Walker tells Kaye: "The city is gradually coming to life."

He points out longer stays are being promoted which he argues gives much more value and bookings are coming, "it's beginning to slowly move forward".

The hotel has the dispensation to move to 1m social distancing and a final decision has not been made on the requirement for staff to wear masks, he explains.

Mr Walker explains: "Guests don't have to wear masks."

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

So Scotland's tourism industry if finally reopening for business.

Nicola Sturgeon says this is the "biggest step so far" in the relaxation of coronavirus measures, which brings with it the greatest risk for a potential resurgence of the virus.

Travel journalist Cat Harvey tells Radio Scotland she has cancelled her holiday to Croatia and is going to find somewhere new in Scotland to explore.

"And do you know what I'm perfectly fine with that."

Cat and her friends are planning a staycation, looking for an "elusive lodge with a hot tub".

She says self-catering is going to do well from now on and the more remote the better.

However the prices for remote self-catering may be sky high, so it's probably the best time ever to get a city break.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Get

Inverclyde Councillors say the region needs more support to help it recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The local authority suffered some of the worst effects of Covid-19 and has been dubbed "Scotland's Coronavirus Capital" because of the death rate.

Cllr Stephen McCabe, Leader of Inverclyde Council, said it is not good enough to say the higher death rate in Inverclyde is just coincidence. The Labour councillor called for a report showing how Inverclyde compared to the rest of Scotland.

He said there were questions to be answered about how the virus arrived in the community and was transmitted through it.

He added that the council wanted to build on the fantastic community response, but that it needed help from the UK and Scottish governments to do this.

Chris McEleny, leader of Inverclyde Council's SNP Group, said it was vitally important to understand what had happened in the area.

He said political will had to be there to help the area thrive, not just recover.

The councillor told Good Morning Scotland that one of the starkest figures he had seen showed five times more people died in Inverclyde - one of the smallest local authorities in Scotland - than died in the whole of New Zealand.

Image source, bbc

There are three ways to measure deaths from Covid-19.

The Scottish government's daily announcement counts deaths after a positive test for Covid-19. The total number of deaths using this measure is2,490.

Every Wednesday, the National Records of Scotland (NRS) releases its virus figures, which counts the number of death certificates that mention Covid-19.

By this measure there were 4,173 deaths registered in Scotland up until 5 July.

The NRS also publishes data on excess deaths, compared to a five-year average. This figure stands at4,868.

Read more here

Image source, PA Media

Scotland is a "welcoming county" that will "welcome everybody", the tourism secretary has said.

Fergus Ewing told Good Morning Scotland that a warm welcome would be extended "particularly [to] our friends down south and in other parts of the UK".

"There is a but, though - if anyone has symptoms of Covid, whether they're living in Glasgow or in London, they shouldn't be travelling anywhere."

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing has told Good Morning Scotland the Scottish government feels "apprehensive" as the lockdown restrictions are further eased.

He said: "There may be some people who disregard the interests of others, and we have seen one or two isolated incidents of that.

"It's absolutely essential that people respect the rules."

Mr Ewing suggested that those who are hesitant to fly should enjoy a staycation in Scotland.

"I know as tourism minister that, overwhelmingly, businesses take this extremely seriously.

"We have really worked very hard with the industry to develop guidance precisely so people can feel safe as they enjoy a break in Scotland."

With regard to measures to support businesses, he said he welcomed the chancellor's announcement of a VAT cut but thought it was for too short a period. Mr Ewing also said he thought the furlough scheme should be extended.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Former shipyard owner Jim McColl has told Good Morning Scotland that it could be seven to 10 years before Scotland recovers economically from the coronavirus pandemic.

"Businesses will need support during that period - more support than they are getting just now", he said.

With regard to Inverclyde, Mr McColl said that, properly structured, there could be a very promising future for shipbuilding in the region.

He said there was a "really great workforce" that were "enthusiastic and motivated" in the area.

"I see that drifting away just now. We need to stimulate that again."