First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced in Scottish Parliament today a return to a ‘sustainable way of life’ for Scotland under a new strategic ‘living with Covid’ plan. In her statement, the First Minister outlined a timeline for the lifting of the small number of legally-binding protective measures including an end to the vaccine passport scheme and wearing of face masks.
This announcement comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed yesterday that all legal restrictions would end in England. Nicola Sturgeon said restrictions are “no longer necessary” as they once were and her aim was to get back to normality while maintaining “vigilance” against future outbreaks.
Nicola Sturgeon outlined in her statement: “This new approach will see us resort much less – hopefully not at all – to legally imposed protective measures. Instead, we will rely predominantly on vaccines, treatments, and sensible public health behaviours and adaptations.
“However, much as we might wish it was not the case, Covid is still a public health risk, here and globally, and it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. So we must remain vigilant and prepared.”
The Scottish Government’s new strategic plan will see the Covid certification (or vaccine passport) scheme, which requires certain venues and events to check the vaccine or test status of attendees, come to an end on Monday (February 28). However, the app which supports the scheme will remain operational for any business that wishes to continue Covid certification on a voluntary basis to reassure customers will be able to do so.
In addition, from March 21, the legal requirement to wear face coverings in certain indoor settings and on public transport will become guidance. The First Minister added that the government “will continue to strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings in shops and other indoor public places, and on public transport.” The legal requirement on businesses, places of worship and service providers to retain customer contact details is also expected to end on March 21.
The Scottish Government’s strategic plan will see Scotland operate under a three-level system for future outbreaks of the virus – of low, medium and high risk. The First Minister said that in a high-risk scenario, where a new variant emerged which could evade vaccines or natural immunity, people could be advised to limit social contacts and work from home, with “some temporary protections” introduced by the government.
Meanwhile in a medium-risk scenario – for example in the event of a variant similar to Omicron which is more transmissible but less severe – Nicola Sturgeon said face mask laws could be reintroduced. The First Minister said that the threat level was currently medium, but was on track to become low-level in the coming weeks – meaning a timetable could be set for the lifting of restrictions.
Following JCVI advice, care home residents, those over 75 as well as immunosuppressed people will be offered another jab to top up the protection received from the previous three doses. The First Minister said : “This phase of the programme will also start in March, though the scheduling of appointments for individuals will depend on the timing of their initial booster or third dose.”
Plus, those aged between five and eleven years old will be invited to get the Covid vaccine from mid-March. Nicola Sturgeon added that this would “allow parents and carers to attend with children, most appointments will be in the evening, at weekends or during the Easter school holidays.”
For more information regarding current Covid-19 restrictions and guidance in Scotland, head to the government website here.