Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland on Monday as lockdown easing continues.
Early-morning queues formed outside shops on Edinburgh’s Princes Street of shoppers keen to snap up a bargain in person.
The country moves from Level 4 to Level 3 of the Scottish Government’s five tiers of restrictions on April 26.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced last week that the continued suppression of coronavirus and the success of the vaccine rollout meant some restrictions can be lifted on Monday.
It means gyms, swimming pools, libraries and museums can reopen along with cafes, restaurants and beer gardens.
Shoppers in Scotland have been reminded over mask-wearing and distancing as retailers look to claw back £4.1 billion in lost sales since the start of the pandemic.
From Monday, “non-essential” shops are allowed to open their doors to the public after being shuttered since Boxing Day, with millions spent on safety-proofing them against Covid transmission.
The Scottish Retail Consortium urged shoppers to queue considerately and be mindful over distancing and mask-wearing after “four long months of closure” for shops.
It expects an “initial surge” as customers venture out but said the “real test will be how this holds up”.
Director David Lonsdale said: “Retailers have spent millions of pounds to make shops Covid-secure for customers and colleagues.
Shoppers in Scotland have been reminded over mask-wearing and distancing as retailers look to claw back £4.1 billion in lost sales since the start of the pandemic.
From Monday, “non-essential” shops are allowed to open their doors to the public after being shuttered since Boxing Day, with millions spent on safety-proofing them against Covid transmission.
The Scottish Retail Consortium urged shoppers to queue considerately and be mindful over distancing and mask-wearing after “four long months of closure” for shops.
It expects an “initial surge” as customers venture out but said the “real test will be how this holds up”.
Director David Lonsdale said: “Retailers have spent millions of pounds to make shops Covid-secure for customers and colleagues.
Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland on Monday as lockdown easing continues.
Early-morning queues formed outside shops on Edinburgh’s Princes Street of shoppers keen to snap up a bargain in person.
The country moves from Level 4 to Level 3 of the Scottish Government’s five tiers of restrictions on April 26.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced last week that the continued suppression of coronavirus and the success of the vaccine rollout meant some restrictions can be lifted on Monday.
It means gyms, swimming pools, libraries and museums can reopen along with cafes, restaurants and beer gardens.