First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the changes will come into effect in most of the country from Monday.

• Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that from 17 May, most of mainland Scotland will see an easing of lockdown rules.
• People will be able to hug and meet in each other's homes from Monday as the rules are relaxed.
• Mainland Scotland will move to level two restrictions - although it is "very likely" Moray will remain in level three after a surge in cases.
• Most of the Scottish islands, with the exception of Skye, Arran and Bute, will move to level one restrictions on the same date.
• A traffic-light system will be introduced for international travel from Monday.

So from 17 May, most of mainland Scotland will see an easing of lockdown rules.

That means:

• It is no longer necessary to maintain physical distance when mixing in each others' homes and gardens
• Up to six people from three households will be able to meet indoors in each other's homes, including for overnight stays - this goes further than the groups of four from two households that had originally been planned
• People can meet outdoors in groups of eight from up to eight households
• Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, comedy clubs and other venues can reopen
• Pubs and restaurants can open indoors and alcohol can be served indoors up until 22:30

But the first minister urged people to "please still be careful" in terms of physical contact, and consider whether someone may be vulnerable to Covid.

That's all from us on the live page today. Please take care and stay safe.

Easing going faster than plannedpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 11 May 2021

13:55 BST 11 May 2021

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

Lockdown is being eased a little faster than the Scottish government originally planned.

Allowing social mixing in your own home from Monday was anticipated but not with the removal of social distancing rules.

As the first minister put it: “You can hug your loved ones again” - echoing a similar announcement by the prime minister, relating to England.

Scotland is also aligning with the UK government’s plans to open up international travel but taking more time to consider easing the requirements for face coverings in school.

Ending social distancing at home creates an anomaly because the rules will remain in force in other settings, including pubs and restaurants.

The Scottish government said it did not want to remove distancing rules everywhere at once, to reduce the risk of Covid flare-ups. A wider review of this policy is to report back in three weeks.

The Scottish government has published an overview of the protection levels and what you can do.

Read it here, external

Anas Sarwar says financial help for businesses not yet able to fully reopen must include making sure "there is no cliff-edge on furlough".

"If that happens with the furlough scheme, you could still push lots and lots of businesses to going bust and, worse still, push lots and lots of people into unemployment," he says.

"That would be a tragedy across our country."

Referencing the situation in Moray, Mr Sarwar says: "If we get into the situation where we have spikes in individual communities and more micro-lockdowns across the country...we've got to make sure there is a robust economic package available to those communities.

"One, to support people particularly on low incomes so they can get by.

"But also supporting businesses so they can survive - and the job creation schemes that go alongside that."

Image source, bbc

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar tells the BBC programme the whole country can feel a sense of hope and optimism as case numbers, in general, continue to fall.

"The fact that we will get to be out with our families and embrace our loved ones again will be a huge relief," he says.

"I know how desperate I am to hug my own granny and I know people across the country will be the same.

"Alongside that, there will be good news in this for businesses and for people's jobs. But we've still got to recognise that the economic troubles we face and the jobs crisis we face doesn't end automatically when the restrictions lift.

"There is more longer-term support that we need to be giving."

Douglas Ross says it "absolutely not" his experience that people in Moray had been failing to comply with Covid guidelines and restrictions in the week leading up to the latest spike.

He says he travelled all over Scotland during the six-week Holyrood election campaign and the way people were going about their lives was exactly the same as those in Moray.

"I'm sure the health experts will look into the data and see why we have had this spike," he says. "But my message to the people of Moray is stick at it.

"If we work together, we will come through this together - and hopefully only a couple of weeks behind the rest of the country."

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross, who is the MP for Moray, tells the BBC programme "everything is being done by the local council, the health board and the Scottish government" to get on top of the latest outbreak.

He says the county remaining in level three will be difficult for local people and it is important to give businesses and families as much help as possible to stabilise and get cases coming down again.

He also welcomed the move to give extra government funding to businesses forced to remain closed while level three restrictions are in place.

"It is absolutely vital that we get that support into the community here," Mr Ross says.

Dr Evans says the Moray population "seem to have stepped up to the mark" in coming forward to be tested and having their vaccination jabs following the recent spike in case numbers.

"The possibility of remaining in level three really has helped people raise their guard again and that is what is needed."

Jillian Evans, the head of intelligence at NHS Grampian, tells the BBC One Coronavirus Update programme that all the evidence on case numbers, test positivity and vaccination uptake means we can be "absolutely positive" about the situation.

"Everything points to a cautious reopening of our lives as we know them and I feel we are at a real threshold today," she says. "These changes are very significant."

Dr Evans says the figures must be continuously kept under review, "to make sure we can manage pockets of outbreaks" as we are seeing in Moray and not endanger the rest of the country.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister also tells the BBC's Glenn Campbell that there was not any change at this stage to guidance on face coverings.

On wearing face masks in schools, she says that will be looked at over the next couple of weeks.

Again she says she does not want to pre-empt the work of the review by expert advisers.

Image source, Getty Images

During her briefing, Ms Sturgeon announced the easing of guidance for physical distancing when it is in a person's own home or garden.

The BBC's Glenn Campbell asks when it will be eased in other settings.

The first minister says a fundamental review of physical distancing will take place over the next three weeks.

She says she will not pre-empt that review but says the government is looking at whether there can be further relaxation of physical distancing in pubs, restaurants, cinemas etc.

Gordon Chree from STV points out those without a garden will ask what the difference is between hugging a friend in a garden or in a public park.

Ms Sturgeon accepts that people might go a bit further than the rules and says it's "simply a case of not wanting to do everything all at once".

She expects that the relaxation of physical distancing will be extended in three weeks' time.

Ms Sturgeon says next week's changes are "the most important yet".

The first minister wants us to enjoy the changes, including hugging loved ones.

She urges us all to still remember FACTS:

Image source, Scottish government

Ms Sturgeon says if you arrive from a country on the amber list, which is the majority of countries, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days and take two PCR tests during that time.

If you travel from a green list country - those deemed the safest - you will need to take a PCR test shortly after arrival but you won't be required to self-isolate.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon confirms changes to the rules on international travel, but says she still intends to be "highly cautious" given the risk of new variants.

She says the situation now allows Scotland to move away from blanket restrictions on non-essential travel overseas.

"From Monday, will move to a traffic-light system...based on the state of the pandemic in each country across the world," she says.

If you enter Scotland from a red list country, you will still have to isolate a hotel for 10 days. These countries will include Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal.

Image source, PA Media

Further changes will also come in on 17 May:

• Up to six people from three households will be able to meet in hospitality settings like pubs and restaurants,
• Hospitality venues return to "greater normality", serving alcohol indoors until 22:30 - Please download the new app Check In Scotland
• Outdoor adult contact sport and indoor group exercise to restart
• Cinemas, amusement arcades, theatres, concert halls, comedy clubs, casinos, snooker halls and bingo halls to reopen
• The first minister says amateur performing arts groups will be able to perform outdoors
• Universities and colleges will ease restrictions and bring back in-person learning
• More than one person will be able to sing during religious services
• Up to 100 people can attend an indoor event
• Up to 250 can attend an outdoor event standing
• Up to 500 people can attend an outdoor event with seating

Image source, Getty Images

Mainland Scotland, with the possible exception of Moray, will move to Level Two from Monday.

Here are the main changes from 17 May:

• Up to six people from no more than three households can socialise indoors in a private home
• From Monday, as long as you stay within permitted limits, you can hug your loved ones again.
• Up to six adults from three households can meet in an indoor public place such as a bar
• Up to eight adults from eight households can meet anywhere outdoors

The first minister warns we must be cautious, so the easing on the guidance for physical distancing will only apply to gatherings in our homes or gardens.

However a review of physical distancing in public places will be undertaken.

Ms Sturgeon calls on us all to use careful judgement as close physical contact does carry a risk.

She warns we must be careful, particularly with vulnerable loved ones and we must limit the number of people we have close physical contact with.

As we move forward personal judgement will take over from rules, which may pose difficulties, the first minister adds.