Nicola Sturgeon has set out what the relaxed Covid restrictions for Christmas are for Scotland.

The First Minister said that just because people could travel and meet other households it doesn’t’ mean they have to.

The relaxed restrictions will be in place for five days between December 23 and December 27.

The rules in Scotland are three households can meet indoors and stay over night but the three household ‘bubble’ should include no more than one extended household already formed.

Scottish Government advice states "If you do want to form a bubble, extended households count as one of the three households, but we recommend that there should be no more than 8 people over the age of 12 in the bubble.  There should be no more than one extended household per bubble."

The ‘bubble’ should include no more than eight people, although children under 12 are not counted towards the total.

Children under 12 do not need to maintain physical distance from others.

Teh advice also states: "Where parents do not live in the same household, children can move between their parents’ homes in different bubbles, and this includes both supervised and unsupervised visitation."

Bubbles can only gather in a private home (to meet or stay the night), outdoors or at a place of worship. 

Travel restrictions will be suspended throughout the UK but only for the purpose of forming a bubble.

The First Minister said that you cannot meet with two other households one day and then one other the next day.

Also, any socializing in hospitality should be done only with those from within the household bubble.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I know some people will think it is too strict and other will think it is reckless.”

The First Minister said she could understand both points of view.

The latest coronavirus statistics showed another 51 deaths registered in the last 24 hours of someone who had tested positive in the last 28 days.

There were another 1225 positive cases of covid-19 across Scotland. There were 1125 people in hospital a decrease of 31 and there were 90 people in intensive care an increase of six on the day before.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The restrictions are having an impact but we can’t be complacent. We want to see the numbers come down further and faster.”