SCOTS who’ve spent the last three months shielding against the coronavirus are now able to leave the house, after the Scottish Government moved to relax restrictions.

The changes went further than expected. From today people in the shielding group will also be allowed to take part in non-contact outdoor activities, including golf, and to meet up with seven other people from another household.

However, they have been advised to remain “extremely cautious”.

The shielded group includes organ transplant recipients, those on active chemotherapy, those with severe lung disease, those with certain metabolic diseases, the significantly immunosuppressed and pregnant women with underlying heart problems.

They also included anyone primary care physicians deemed vulnerable.

At the start of the pandemic they were all sent a letter telling them to stay indoors and take extra precautions until June 18. Last week, Nicola Sturgeon extended that, telling them that they would need to shield until the end of July.

Speaking in Holyrood yesterday, the First Minister, addressing shielding people directly, said that new advice from her scientific advisors meant it was possible to “provide a real improvement to your quality of life, without significantly increasing the risks you face”.

Announcing the new changes she said: “If you are shielding, you should continue to be extremely cautious. That means staying at last two metres away from other people at all times, even if you live with the person you’re out with.

“Do not go inside someone else’s house, or allow someone from another household to go inside yours, even to use the toilet.

“And when you go outside, choose times and areas that are quiet.”

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Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, described the announcement as a “light at the end of the tunnel” for older people.

He said: “The easing of lockdown for hundreds of thousands of older people living alone will come as a huge relief.

“So many older people have endured lockdown without any face to face contact with family or friends for three months now, and it has been extremely difficult for them.

“For the half a million over-60s in Scotland who don’t use the internet, there hasn’t even been the option of video calls with loved ones. They have had to rely on the phone for conversation.

“The result of such prolonged isolation is that loneliness levels are through the roof and having a profound impact on the mental and physical health of older people.”

He added: “Today’s announcement is a small step towards normality, and must of course be done in compliance with safety guidelines, but at last there is light at the end of the tunnel for our older people who have felt very cut off from society during this pandemic.

“They can now look forward to seeing family and friends and when it is safe to do so, being part of their communities again.”