Nicola Sturgeon has stressed that everyone in Scotland has a duty to ensure the safety of the public and staff when shops begin to reopen from Monday.
In her daily briefing, the First Minister outlined guidance for customers ahead of the easing of restrictions.
She urged Scots to shop locally – keeping within five miles of their home – and shop alone or in as small a group as possible, choosing to visit shops outside of peak times.
Ms Sturgeon also “strongly advised” that shoppers wear face coverings to protect others, as consultation continues on the possibility of making the practice mandatory.
She told shoppers to remain “patient and polite”, adding: “These rules are there for the protection of all of us.
“Abusing retail staff because they’re telling you something that you don’t want to do is not acceptable.
“These people are at work and have to be kept safe too so please treat them with respect and courtesy.”
© Jeff J Mitchell /PA WireMs Sturgeon visited an outlet of New Look in Edinburgh this morning as it prepared to welcome customers again for the first time in months.
The First Minister wore a tartan face covering as she toured the store at the city’s Fort Kinnaird retail park, where the layout has been altered and signage added to ensure social distancing takes place.
Shops with outdoor exits and entrances will be permitted to open from Monday, but non-essential outlets inside shopping centres will remain closed until the third phase of the road map out of lockdown.
The First Minister also addressed scenes at Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow on Thursday night, where police were forced to clear the park and two people were arrested.
Ms Sturgeon said: “While I understand, and I really, really do, people’s desire to enjoy the sunshine on the very few days a year we have any, please avoid crowded places.”
She added: “This virus will take those opportunities if we give them to it, so we mustn’t provide them.”
The First Minister also asked that people who spend time outside take their litter away with them or dispose of it responsibly.
She added: “Refuse collectors across the country are doing an incredible job and I do want to thank them today, but they simply should not be having to clean up after mass gatherings.”
No deaths were registered in the past 24 hours of patients who tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland.
It marks the first time this has happened on a weekday since before lockdown.
Previous days with no recorded deaths have happened around the weekend when registration figures tend to be artificially low.
It means the death toll in Scotland under this measure remains at 2,482.
The First Minister said 18,213 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 17 from 18,196 the previous day.
There are 823 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a drop of three in 24 hours.
Of these patients, 17 are in intensive care, a fall of one.
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