As coronavirus cases decreased in Scotland, the government has decided to lift all <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid restrictions</a> except face masks.

Scotland has decided to move to level zero of Covid restrictions from July 19. However, face masks will be mandatory for some more time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-johnson-johnson-vaccine-can-cause-rare-neurological-complication-warns-us-fda-397718" hreflang="en">COVID-19: Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine can cause rare neurological complication, warns US FDA</a>

As per the 'level zero', locals will now be allowed to meet indoors and attend weddings or funerals. However, people will still be asked to work from home and outdoor meetings will be limited to a certain number that will be revealed soon.

For now, up to eight adults from four households can have indoor gatherings and 10 people can gather in a restaurant or a pub. Additionally, up to 15 people from 15 households can have outdoor gatherings and 200 people are allowed in weddings and funerals.

While many locals were hoping for total scrapping of Covid regulations, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the lifting of restrictions has been planned while&nbsp;keeping in mind the spread of Delta variant in other countries.

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The government is also hoping to remove the requirement of close contacts of Covid positive people to self-isolate of they have been fully vaccinated. In addition to this, authorities are also yet to decide whether school children of close contacts of Covid positive people will have to self-isolate or not.

As per the new guidelines, all fully vaccinated people who will be returning from amber list countries will not be asked to quarantine now, as long as they test negative upon arrival.

"We must stick to a cautious approach. We are easing restrictions next week, but we are not abandoning them," Sturgeon said. "And even when we move beyond level zero, we will continue to require some baseline measures such as face coverings."

As coronavirus cases decreased in Scotland, the government has decided to lift all Covid restrictions except face masks. Scotland has decided to move to level zero of Covid restrictions from July 19.

As coronavirus cases decreased in Scotland, the government has decided to lift all Covid restrictions except face masks. Scotland has decided to move to level zero of Covid restrictions from July 19. However, face masks will be mandatory for some more time. Also read | COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson vaccine can cause rare neurological complication, warns US FDA As per the 'level zero', locals will now be allowed to meet indoors and attend weddings or funerals. However, people will still be asked to work from home and outdoor meetings will be limited to a certain number that will be revealed soon. For now, up to eight adults from four households can have indoor gatherings and 10 people can gather in a restaurant or a pub. Additionally, up to 15 people from 15 households can have outdoor gatherings and 200 people are allowed in weddings and funerals. While many locals were hoping for total scrapping of Covid regulations, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the lifting of restrictions has been planned while keeping in mind the spread of Delta variant in other countries. Also read |Drinking coffee reduces risk of contracting coronavirus: Study The government is also hoping to remove the requirement of close contacts of Covid positive people to self-isolate of they have been fully vaccinated. In addition to this, authorities are also yet to decide whether school children of close contacts of Covid positive people will have to self-isolate or not. As per the new guidelines, all fully vaccinated people who will be returning from amber list countries will not be asked to quarantine now, as long as they test negative upon arrival. "We must stick to a cautious approach. We are easing restrictions next week, but we are not abandoning them," Sturgeon said. "And even when we move beyond level zero, we will continue to require some baseline measures such as face coverings."

Scotland to adopt 'zero level' Covid restrictions; face masks remain compulsory

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued an apology on Wednesday after she was photographed at an indoor event without wearing a mask in breach of strict COVID-19 rules.

Under the law in Scotland, people are required to wear masks in most indoor venues including pubs and restaurants and on Tuesday, Sturgeon reminded the public of the importance of wearing masks when she spoke to the Scottish parliament.

Sturgeon, the leader of the nationalist Scottish National Party, was pictured talking to a group of women in a pub following a funeral in Edinburgh last week without a face covering. The photo was published in Wednesday's Scottish edition of the Sun newspaper.

"Last Friday, while attending a funeral wake, I had my mask off briefly. This was a stupid mistake and I'm really sorry," Sturgeon said in a statement.

"I talk every day about the importance of masks, so I’m not going to offer any excuses. I was in the wrong, I’m kicking myself, and I'm sorry."

The Scottish Conservatives, Scotland's arm of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling party, said Sturgeon should have known better and she had undermined the public health message.

"There cannot be one rule for Nicola Sturgeon and another for everyone else," the Scottish Conservatives said on Twitter.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued an apology on Wednesday after she was photographed at an indoor event without wearing a mask in breach of strict COVID-19 rules.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued an apology on Wednesday after she was photographed at an indoor event without wearing a mask in breach of strict COVID-19 rules. Under the law in Scotland, people are required to wear masks in most indoor venues including pubs and restaurants and on Tuesday, Sturgeon reminded the public of the importance of wearing masks when she spoke to the Scottish parliament. Sturgeon, the leader of the nationalist Scottish National Party, was pictured talking to a group of women in a pub following a funeral in Edinburgh last week without a face covering. The photo was published in Wednesday's Scottish edition of the Sun newspaper. "Last Friday, while attending a funeral wake, I had my mask off briefly. This was a stupid mistake and I'm really sorry," Sturgeon said in a statement. "I talk every day about the importance of masks, so I’m not going to offer any excuses. I was in the wrong, I’m kicking myself, and I'm sorry." The Scottish Conservatives, Scotland's arm of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling party, said Sturgeon should have known better and she had undermined the public health message. "There cannot be one rule for Nicola Sturgeon and another for everyone else," the Scottish Conservatives said on Twitter.

Scottish first minister apologises for mask error, says she's 'kicking' herself

Britain recorded the highest death toll of 381 on Tuesday, an increase of twenty-nine per cent as the coronavirus continued to ravage to the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-us-records-highest-single-day-death-toll-as-trump-says-painful-two-weeks-ahead-289801">Also Read:&nbsp;US records highest single-day death toll as Trump says painful two weeks ahead</a>

A 13-year-old boy was among the casualty who died at King's College Hospital in London. The boy is believed to be Britain's youngest person to have died from the COVID-19 epidemic.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-wuhan-coronavirus-chinas-disease-incubators-are-back-in-business-289790/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Britain had earlier recorded 260 deaths on Saturday with the toll dropping to 180 on Monday.

Authorities in Scotland said 60 people had died as of Tuesday while Wales reported 69 deaths due to the virus. In Northern Ireland, the death toll was 28 due to COVID-19.

There are 25,481 confirmed cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins coronavirus resource centre.

According to the UK's health ministry, 1,789 people have died due to the virus in the country.

The Boris Johnson government had ordered a three-week lockdown to reduce stress on the National Health Service(NHS) which has faced the brunt of the virus with doctors and nurses scampering to treat patients, as several complained of being overwhelmed.

Stephen Powis, medical director for the NHS in England said despite the fatalities there were "green shoots" since the rate of infections was slowing.

"It's really important not to read too much into this. It's early days. We're not out of the woods," Powis added, while informing that," it's really important that we keep complying with those (social distancing) instructions." 
&nbsp;

Britain recorded the highest death toll of 381 on Tuesday, an increase of twenty-nine per cent as the coronavirus continued to ravage to the country. Also Read: US records highest single-day death toll as Trump says painful two weeks ahead A 13-year-old boy was among the casualty who died at King's College Hospital in London.

Britain recorded the highest death toll of 381 on Tuesday, an increase of twenty-nine per cent as the coronavirus continued to ravage to the country. Also Read: US records highest single-day death toll as Trump says painful two weeks ahead A 13-year-old boy was among the casualty who died at King's College Hospital in London. The boy is believed to be Britain's youngest person to have died from the COVID-19 epidemic. Watch Video: Britain had earlier recorded 260 deaths on Saturday with the toll dropping to 180 on Monday. Authorities in Scotland said 60 people had died as of Tuesday while Wales reported 69 deaths due to the virus. In Northern Ireland, the death toll was 28 due to COVID-19. There are 25,481 confirmed cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins coronavirus resource centre. According to the UK's health ministry, 1,789 people have died due to the virus in the country. The Boris Johnson government had ordered a three-week lockdown to reduce stress on the National Health Service(NHS) which has faced the brunt of the virus with doctors and nurses scampering to treat patients, as several complained of being overwhelmed. Stephen Powis, medical director for the NHS in England said despite the fatalities there were "green shoots" since the rate of infections was slowing. "It's really important not to read too much into this. It's early days. We're not out of the woods," Powis added, while informing that," it's really important that we keep complying with those (social distancing) instructions."

UK reports record 381 COVID-19 deaths, including 13-year-old boy