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People in Scotland who live on their own, or only with children under 18, will be able to form an “extended household group” with one other household from Friday, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

It means they will be able to meet indoors without the need for physical distancing, as well as stay overnight.

If anyone from the extended group contracts the virus, then the whole group will be required to self-isolate.

Scotland’s first minister made the announcement to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, as she said the country was moving to the second phase of her four-step plan to ease out of lockdown.

Sturgeon also announced face coverings will be mandatory on public transport from Monday.

And she urged Scots to stay within a roughly five-mile radius of their home for recreation, but not for meeting family.

From Friday, people will be able to meet those in two other households while outside, with no more than eight people gathered at a time.

People will also be able to go inside to use the toilet when meeting in someone else’s garden, the first minister added.

She also confirmed that those who are in the shielding category will be able to go outside for exercise from Friday, as well as be able to meet people from one other household, as was the case for the general public in phase one, so long as social distancing measures are adhered to.

The changes bring the lockdown rules more into line with those in England.

Sturgeon said “unfortunately” she was “not able to give a date” for the reopening of outdoor hospitality including beer gardens.

Speaking to the parliament, Sturgeon warned the virus “has not gone away” and that the reason the virus had been suppressed to its current levels was “because of lockdown”.

“So as we gradually remove the restrictions that have kept it under control, there is a very real risk that transmission could rise again,” she said.

“That is why – if we don’t want to go backwards – we must progress carefully.”