The guidance says people from different households have to observe 1m social distancing at pub and restaurant tables.

As further restrictions are relaxed to ease us out of lockdown, what rules are changing and when?

With the country opening up a little more on Friday, here are five things about the state of the pandemic.

People will be allowed to meet in larger groups outdoors and take day trips across Scotland from Friday.

Secondary pupils in six councils are among those returning for full-time, in-class lessons for the first time in months.

Pupils will no longer have to follow strict two metre physical distancing rules when they return.

The charge has been 5p since it was introduced in 2014, prompting a drastic decline in plastic bag usage.

People are being told to "stay local" and remain within their local council area for the following three weeks.

The leaders of Scotland's five larger political parties will take part in the BBC Scotland debate.

KPMG analysis suggests Scottish GDP could be boosted by a successful vaccine rollout and "consumer bounce".

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng tells MPs he hopes to support the steelmaker "in its entirety".

RMT union members are to hold strike days every Sunday until 2 May, in an overtime payments dispute.

The Scottish government praised staff for their "service and dedication" during the Covid pandemic.

EU leaders will hold a virtual summit on Thursday to discuss the fate of vaccines made on the continent.

Despite the supply issues, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the government expects to meet its mid-April targets.

The Scottish government says ScotRail will be taken into public ownership in March 2022.

Independence, Covid, the economy and the NHS are on voters' minds ahead of elections in May.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says garden centres can also reopen in the days after the stay at home lockdown order is lifted.

Secondary students were among those returning to the classroom - but initially on a part-time basis.

The UK government has said more than 1,000 civil service roles in total are to be relocated to Scotland

Vaccination of Scotland's healthcare workers has lowered the rate of infection for people they live with.

As part of the phased return of pupils across Scotland, children in P4-P7 will also return full time.

Under new guidance local areas will have to have a lower number of positive cases before restrictions are eased.

Using World Health Organization measures, it is possible to chart Scotland's progress in tackling Covid-19.

People with mild or moderate learning disabilities will now also be offered the jab in the next priority group.

First evidence from the UK's vaccine programme shows a reduction in hospital admissions in Scotland.

Deaths among the oldest age group are falling, but is this "hard evidence" the vaccine is working?

Scotland's national clinical director says a Covid elimination strategy would stop international travel.

Audit Scotland say preparations for the pandemic could have been better but the NHS was not overwhelmed.

Pupils in P1 to P3 and pre-school children will go back from 22 February, it has been confirmed.

Nicola Sturgeon says the latest milestone has been reached - but that progress will slow in the coming days.

Concerns have been raised about the virus spreading if Scotland-bound travellers in England use public transport.

The country has received lower Pfizer vaccine stocks than expected due to a reduction in manufacturing capacity.

Scotland has faced a second day of travel disruption after further heavy snowfall and freezing conditions.

Everyone arriving on an overseas flight will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days at a cost of at least £1,750.

A survey suggests firms are hopeful of a solid economic recovery once Covid restrictions are lifted.

Seafood and fishing industry bodies highlight post-Brexit export problems to MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee.

Despite the most magnificent conditions in 11 years, the slopes remain closed because of lockdown.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen examined factors across the 37 worst hit countries.

Multiple factors will determine when an easing of restrictions comes, from vaccine effectiveness to hospital admissions rates.

Figures suggest exports of single malt have fallen by a third since a 25% tariff was imposed in 2019.

Nicola Sturgeon says the NHS is "ahead of schedule" in rolling out vaccines to the over-80s by Friday's deadline.

Boris Johnson says most people in Scotland are focused on defeating Covid rather than another referendum.

The boss of Scotland's Railways says "difficult decisions" have to be made to save taxpayer money.

The Scottish government wants to keep Scotland involved with the EU's education programme.

A pilot programme for 24/7 vaccinations is among options being considered by the Scottish government.

Vaccination appointments for over-70s in Scotland will arrive on Monday as planned - but in white envelopes.

Some elderly Scots are anxious as they wait for the jab despite assurances the vaccine programme is on track.

Modelling suggests that lockdown has "stabilised" the spread of new cases in Scotland.

The youngest and oldest pupils, plus those with additional support needs will be among the first to return to classrooms.

Mainland Scotland and some islands to remain under toughest coronavirus rules until at least mid-February.

Grants of £1,500 are being made available but those in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit, are not eligible.

Soldiers from the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are involved in the effort.

Scotland's education secretary says it will be a challenge for schools to reopen as normal by 1st February.

Scotland's health secretary says 400,000 jabs could be administered every week by the end of February.

Restrictions around takeaway food and click-and-collect services in Scotland are to be toughened.

The increasing number of staff off work could prevent the NHS Louisa Jordan opening to Covid patients.

Scotland's first minister says the current restrictions are "very unlikely" to be lifted at the end of the month.

Teaching for the vast majority of students will be online only until at least the end of February.

The BMA in Scotland says it is concerned about the potential impact of delaying the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Strict new Covid-19 restrictions come into force in Scotland, prohibiting people from leaving their homes.

Mainland Scotland faces tougher restrictions from midnight, and schools will remain closed until February.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine programme is being rolled out less than a week after it became the second approved in the UK.

The deal between the UK and EU ends months of arguments over business rules and fishing rights.

While this is a "critical step forward", seed potatoes are not included because of EU regulatory fears.

Scottish ministers want drivers moving perishable goods such as seafood to be prioritised as France eases its travel ban.

Nicola Sturgeon warns that the current top level of restrictions may need to be tightened further.

The deputy first minister says the prevalence of the virus is much lower than other parts of the UK.

Officers in Scotland "will act" if they believe there is a "flagrant" breach of travel restrictions.

In a key policy speech, the Labour leader set out plans for the "boldest devolution project in a generation".

Retail and hospitality industry leaders say more financial help is needed as they prepare for three weeks of tough restrictions.

The health secretary was speaking as three council areas prepare to move to a tougher level of restrictions.

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and East Lothian will all move up to level three of the country's tiered system.

All 32 local authority areas in the country will be assessed by politicians and public health officials.

Annie Innes, 90, from South Lanarkshire, is the first person to be be vaccinated in a care home.

Non-essential shops across much of western Scotland have reopened for the first time in three weeks.

A new report identifies that UK and foreign travel was the trigger for the second wave of the pandemic.

Details of a further £185m of support for Scottish firms hit by Covid-19 restrictions are announced.

All 11 council areas currently under level four restrictions are to be downgraded to level three on Friday.

As people in Scotland wait to hear what Covid alert level their area will be put in to, we analyse the statistics and ask whether the toughest measures have been working.

Nicola Sturgeon says 11 councils in west and central Scotland will come out of the highest tier of restrictions.

The lateral flow tests will be trialled among visitors to 14 care homes in five local authority areas.

Patient care could be put at risk if an agreement is not made before the 31 December departure date.

The first batches of the vaccine, which arrive in Scotland on Tuesday, will be given to health staff.

People in Scotland could start receiving the Covid-19 vaccine from next Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon says.

Ministers will continue to "look carefully" at Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, but both will remain in level two.

Nicola Sturgeon says the one-off cash payment is to thank health staff for their "extraordinary service".

Two new mass testing programmes are under way in a bid to drive down infection rates before Christmas.

Government guidance says the bubbles should contain a maximum of eight people over the age of 11.

An increase in the money coming to Scotland but uncertainty about costs and pay awards.

Covid hotspots are still emerging across Scotland, but the number of daily deaths is declining.

Reduced activity sees confidence "slashed" and more redundancies expected in 2021, a survey reveals.

Nicola Sturgeon says the existing restrictions in place across Scotland are "having an impact" on the virus.

Nicola Sturgeon says there could be a "careful" easing at Christmas - but does not expect a relaxation at new year.