Primark shoppers form huge queues as stores reopen in Scotland amid lockdown easing

lockdown in March 2020. For 14 months, we’ve been told not to hug or shake hands with people we don’t live with.Now, this rule is set to change from next week as the country enters Level 2 of its roadmap out of the pandemic.Nicola Sturgeon confirmed social distancing rules will ease on May 17 and admitted she felt 'a wee bit emotional' as she announced the major milestone.

lockdown restrictions on social distancing to ease for the first time in months. During Tuesday's coronavirus briefing, Nicola Sturgeon admitted she felt 'emotional' as she announced that people could now hug each other from Monday, May 17.

First Minister said that case numbers in North East region taking in Forres, Elgin, Lossiemouth and Buckie, are more than four times higher than in the rest of the country which is due to move to Level 2 on Monday.Sturgeon said :“It’s against that backdrop that, unless the situation was to materially improve over the next few days, it would simply not be safe or sensible to ease restrictions there from Monday.”Read the full story.The “huge success” of the vaccination programme along with

have been allowed this year.Scots will also be able to meet outdoors in groups of eight people from eight different households.It comes as the number of people testing positive for covid has plummeted in recent months, with hospitalisations caused by coronavirus also in steep decline.The country's vaccination roll-out also continues at speed, with more than half of the population having received at least one dose.Speaking at her first covid media briefing since winning reelection last week, the

Lions attack in their three-match series against the Springboks. Gatland was speaking immediately after naming eight Scots in his 37-man tour squad.It is the country’s biggest representation on a Lions tour since Finlay Calder led a squad containing nine to Australia in 1989.Stuart Hogg, Duhan van der Merwe, Chris Harris, Ali Price, Rory Sutherland, Zander Fagerson and Hamish Watson are the other Scots selected.

cinemas later this month as lockdown restrictions are set to ease further across the country.

jab to 16 and 17 years olds and said she could see a “number of reasons” for extending it across the UK.

dramatic Prime Minister’s Questions is likely to dominate today’s agenda. Boris Johnson was framed as a liar in the Commons for failing to admit to alleged remarks about allowing to let “bodies pile high” instead of seeing another covid lockdown.

holiday hotspots have been revealed as cooped up holidaymakers cause a 'huge' surge in bookings over summer. Edinburgh is in the top five most searched for destinations for this year, with travellers desperate for a city break to the capital to visit restaurants and pubs, according to the latest research by Booking.com.

lockdown restrictions ease significantly for the first time in four months. A number of rules changes have come into force from today - including the reopening of non-essential retail and hospitality.

lockdown restrictions ease across the country. Mainland Scotland has now moved to level three with shops, hospitality and gyms re-opening, and travel around the UK now permitted.

airport worker pals reunited at the front of a Primark queue as Scotland's non-essential shops opened their doors for the first time since Christmas. Early birds, Danielle Sartrain and Sarah Douglas, caught up as they patiently waited for the clothes store to open at Braehead Shopping Centre in Renfrew, Refrewshire on Monday.

Scottish high street prepares to reopen for non-essential retail on April 26, Boots has announced the launch of three inspirational new beauty halls, with more to come in the summer. Although Boots has remained open as an essential retailer throughout lockdown, it has used this quieter period to invest in stores, giving its beauty halls at Fort Kinnaird and Gyle Shopping Centre in Edinburgh and Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow their very own makeover.

stunning dress has everyone talking. Combining two massive looks right now - gingham and midi length - the dress was met with instant approval from fashion fans on Insta.

new freedoms next week after Nicola Sturgeon confirmed lockdown will ease further as covid cases continue to fall. The First Minister announced the country will move to Level Three lockdown next Monday, leading to a raft of changes.

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that lockdown will ease across Scotland next week as cases continue to fall.The First Minister said the country would move to Level Three lockdown on Monday, April 26. The SNP leader, at a Scottish Government covid briefig, gave detail of travel between Scotland, England and Wales and the reopening of gyms, non-essential shops and the hospitality sector.

First Minister announced the country will be placed under Level 3 as of Monday which means thousands of non-essential shops and businesses can finally reopen their doors after almost five months of closure.Hospitality businesses will also be able to welcome back customers - but with strict social distancing rules in place - as of April 26, with pub beer gardens able to start selling pints.And there's good news for couples planning to celebrate a wedding with more guests allowed at venues.Scots

beer gardens, with opening hours determined by local licensing laws. The First Minister had previously flagged the April 26th date when she published the Government’s routemap for taking Scotland out of lockdown.

finally lifted today after more than four months, while groups of up to six people from six different households can also now legally meet outdoors. Until now, most Scots have been unable to invite people into their own homes for non-essential purposes since September and thousands of hospitality businesses remain shut.

today. The First Minister will be joined by Chief Medical Officer Gregor Smith from St Andrew's House as they provide details on planned easing of restrictions across the country.