Covid in Scotland: Hugging and indoor visits to resume from Monday

People will be able to hug and meet in each other's homes from Monday as Scotland's Covid 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, will move to level one restrictions on the same date.

And a traffic light system will be introduced for international travel from Monday.

The changes, which will also allow pubs and restaurants to sell alcohol indoors, were confirmed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

She also announced that the requirement for social distancing during meetings indoors or in private gardens would be dropped.

"I actually feel a wee bit emotional saying this... from Monday, as long as you stay within permitted limits, you can hug your loved ones again," she said.

The first minister said it was "vital to be cautious", and that the possibility of dropping social distancing in all situations would be reviewed in the coming weeks.

She said it was "highly probable" that Moray will remain in level three when restrictions are eased in the rest of the country.

Case numbers in the area are more than four times higher than in the rest of Scotland.

"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," she said.

It is also expected that travel restrictions will be reintroduced, so that travel in and out of Moray would be limited to "permitted purposes only".

Scotland has five levels of Covid restrictions, which range from full lockdown down to level zero - which is close to a return to normality.

The country moved down from level four to level three on 26 April, which enabled the reopening of cafes, pubs and restaurants, gyms, and the remaining non-essential shops.

Under the level two restrictions up to six people from three households will be able to meet in their homes, and can also stay overnight.

Alcohol can be served indoors in pubs or restaurants, which will be allowed to stay open until 22:30 - and up to six adults from three households will be able to meet indoors in a public place.

Restrictions on meeting up outdoors will ease further, to enable up to eight adults from eight different households to gather.

Adult outdoor contact sports and indoor group exercises will be able to resume.

Cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades are also likely to be able to reopen, and outdoor and indoor events like concerts can restart - although capacity may initially be limited.