Stores in Scotland start gradual reopening with ‘click and collect’ services

More services are set to open from today (5 April) in Scotland as the region has continued with its cautious easing of lockdown restrictions.

Hairdressers, garden centres, car showrooms and forecourts, homeware stores and non-essential click and collect services will be able to open from today, subject to enhanced safety measures including physical distancing, face coverings and pre-booking where appropriate.

People can now make non-essential journeys in their local authority area as the government has replaced the Stay at Home rule with a requirement to Stay Local from 2 April.

“It will be easier to relax more restrictions in the future if case numbers remain under control, so when things open up slightly this weekend please continue to stick to the rules, and follow the advice and the instructions given by store staff to keep you and the other customers safe,” First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said in a statement last week.

Restrictions on non-essential travel across local authority boundaries will remain in place. People must stay within their council area for non-essential shopping and should only travel to another area for essential shopping if there are no practical alternatives.