First Minister announces Scotland’s plan to manage COVID-19

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced Scotland’s plans to manage COVID-19 mainly through public health advice, vaccination and treatment rather than legal restrictions.

Under the updated Strategic Framework:

• Vaccine certification will no longer be legally required from 28 February, although the app will remain available so businesses can use it on a voluntary basis.
• Current legal requirements on using face coverings, collecting customer details for contact tracing purposes, and requirements for businesses, service providers and places of worship to have regard to/take measures on Covid are expected to be lifted on 21 March, subject to the state of the pandemic
• Access to lateral flow and PCR tests will continue to be free, ahead of a detailed transition plan due in March on the test and protect programme.

People who test positive for COVID-19 will continue to be asked to self-isolate to reduce the risk of infecting other people. Any changes to the recommended period of self-isolation will be considered on an ongoing basis.

On testing in social care, the plan says the Scottish Government is reviewing the frequency of asymptomatic testing taking place within health and social care workforces and may revert in the period ahead from daily to twice weekly testing. However, this would be in line with the latest clinical advice and risk assessments.

Living safely with Covid - Scottish Government press release.