Face coverings to be mandatory on public transport in Scotland from June 22

Face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in Scotland from Monday, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The First Minister detailed the latest easing of restrictions as the country moves into Phase 2 of the route map out of lockdown at Holyrood this afternoon.

Face coverings will be mandatory from June 22 on buses, trains, taxis and trams.

Only children under five, those with breathing problems or other physical conditions which make it difficult to wear a mask, will be exempt.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We believe that this measure will be increasingly important as use of public transport increases, and that implementing it now will help to reduce the risks of transmission and build public confidence.”

Addressing the possibility of reducing the recommended social distance from two metres to one, the First Minister said she had asked advisers to look into changes, in particular settings where a reduction could be made to 1.5 metres instead.

The latest easing of restrictions includes people who are shielding being able to leave their home for exercise from today, and being able to meet people from one other household outdoors or take part in non-contact outdoor activities from tomorrow.

People who are not shielding can now meet with two households outside with physical distancing. They can also use toilets indoors while visiting the outdoors of another household.

People who live alone or single parents with live with children under 18 can also now meet others indoors in an “extended household” and stay overnight with no physical distancing.

Ms Sturgeon said that people should continue to stay in their local area (broadly within five miles) as much as possible and should not travel further for leisure or recreation.