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| Covid in Scotland: Easing of restrictions 'a significant moment' | Covid in Scotland: Easing of restrictions 'a significant moment' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The latest easing of the Omicron restrictions is "a very significant moment" in the fight against Covid, the deputy first minister has said. | The latest easing of the Omicron restrictions is "a very significant moment" in the fight against Covid, the deputy first minister has said. |
| For the first time since Boxing Day nightclubs can reopen and crowd limits on large indoor events are lifted. | For the first time since Boxing Day nightclubs can reopen and crowd limits on large indoor events are lifted. |
| But people are still being asked to work from home and take lateral flow tests before meeting others. | But people are still being asked to work from home and take lateral flow tests before meeting others. |
| John Swinney said the government would continue to take a "proportionate" approach to the remaining measures. | John Swinney said the government would continue to take a "proportionate" approach to the remaining measures. |
| On Sunday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that "we're hopefully seeing Scotland firmly on the downward slope". | On Sunday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that "we're hopefully seeing Scotland firmly on the downward slope". |
| What are the Covid rules in Scotland? | What are the Covid rules in Scotland? |
| How does Scotland's vaccine passport work? | How does Scotland's vaccine passport work? |
| The lifting of many of the remaining restrictions was announced last week following a significant fall in new case numbers. | The lifting of many of the remaining restrictions was announced last week following a significant fall in new case numbers. |
| Guidance advising adults against meeting up with more than three households at a time has been dropped, along with restrictions on indoor contact sports. | Guidance advising adults against meeting up with more than three households at a time has been dropped, along with restrictions on indoor contact sports. |
| In hospitality, the requirement for 1m physical distancing and table service has now ended, but the vaccine passport scheme remains in force for certain venues. | In hospitality, the requirement for 1m physical distancing and table service has now ended, but the vaccine passport scheme remains in force for certain venues. |
| Longer-running measures such as the use of face coverings on public transport, in indoor public places and in secondary schools also remain in place. | Longer-running measures such as the use of face coverings on public transport, in indoor public places and in secondary schools also remain in place. |
| 'Significant challenges' | 'Significant challenges' |
| Mr Swinney welcomed the easing of restrictions that were introduced last month before Scotland experienced record-breaking virus case numbers. | Mr Swinney welcomed the easing of restrictions that were introduced last month before Scotland experienced record-breaking virus case numbers. |
| But he warned: "It is too early to say if it is the beginning of the end." | But he warned: "It is too early to say if it is the beginning of the end." |
| Mr Swinney told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland that worldwide there remained "significant challenges" in the handling of the virus, specifically around the possible emergence of new variants. | Mr Swinney told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland that worldwide there remained "significant challenges" in the handling of the virus, specifically around the possible emergence of new variants. |
| He also said the Scottish government would continue to take a prudent approach to basic anti-virus measures such as the wearing of face coverings. | He also said the Scottish government would continue to take a prudent approach to basic anti-virus measures such as the wearing of face coverings. |
| Nightclubs can reopen as restrictions to tackle the Omicron wave are lifted | Nightclubs can reopen as restrictions to tackle the Omicron wave are lifted |
| Mr Swinney added: "Covid is still out there. We can still see there are thousands of cases on a daily basis within Scotland. | Mr Swinney added: "Covid is still out there. We can still see there are thousands of cases on a daily basis within Scotland. |
| "There are people who are still having a very hard time with Covid and our health service is still enduring the enormous pressures of Covid. | "There are people who are still having a very hard time with Covid and our health service is still enduring the enormous pressures of Covid. |
| "So Covid has not, in any shape or form, disappeared." | "So Covid has not, in any shape or form, disappeared." |
| The Omicron variant is now believed to have peaked in the first week of January. | The Omicron variant is now believed to have peaked in the first week of January. |
| The percentage of positive tests has dropped from almost 30% in early January to under 20% . | The percentage of positive tests has dropped from almost 30% in early January to under 20% . |
| The number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid is also falling. | The number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid is also falling. |
| In total, 6,329 positive cases were reported on Sunday with 1,441 patients in hospital. It is down from 7,158 cases a week earlier, with 100 fewer people in hospital. | In total, 6,329 positive cases were reported on Sunday with 1,441 patients in hospital. It is down from 7,158 cases a week earlier, with 100 fewer people in hospital. |
| At the weekend Ms Sturgeon defended the continuing vaccine passport scheme, saying it had helped as part of "a package of measures" to protect against transmission. | At the weekend Ms Sturgeon defended the continuing vaccine passport scheme, saying it had helped as part of "a package of measures" to protect against transmission. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Nicola Sturgeon says case numbers are "hopefully now... very firmly on the downward slope" | Nicola Sturgeon says case numbers are "hopefully now... very firmly on the downward slope" |
| In an interview with the BBC's Sunday Morning programme, she said: "I don't underplay the impact of any of these measures on businesses and the night-time industry, but checking Covid certification is a better alternative to being closed." | In an interview with the BBC's Sunday Morning programme, she said: "I don't underplay the impact of any of these measures on businesses and the night-time industry, but checking Covid certification is a better alternative to being closed." |
| She said that vaccine passports were "not causing anybody any real hardship" and had allowed large events to go ahead. | She said that vaccine passports were "not causing anybody any real hardship" and had allowed large events to go ahead. |
| The first minister said she hoped that passports and wearing of facemasks would "eventually" come to an end. | The first minister said she hoped that passports and wearing of facemasks would "eventually" come to an end. |
| But she said there would be big "economic consequences" if we allowed the virus to spread in an uncontrolled way. | But she said there would be big "economic consequences" if we allowed the virus to spread in an uncontrolled way. |
| Despite restrictions easing, people have been advised to keep social meet-ups small to reduce the risk of infection. | Despite restrictions easing, people have been advised to keep social meet-ups small to reduce the risk of infection. |
| “There’s a lot of uncertainty. We were given six days notice we can open.” Scotland’s Covid restrictions have been eased, with indoor events resuming and nightclubs reopening.Ross Calder, of @agpaberdeen, says there's optimism going forward, but a huge backlog of gigs... pic.twitter.com/EN2XQAxWgD | |
| Workers should also continue to work from home where possible. Ministers are due to hold talks with business leaders about a return to a hybrid working approach from February. | Workers should also continue to work from home where possible. Ministers are due to hold talks with business leaders about a return to a hybrid working approach from February. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the financial impact of Covid restrictions on business and hospitality had been "worth it" to stop the spread of Omicron. | Ms Sturgeon said the financial impact of Covid restrictions on business and hospitality had been "worth it" to stop the spread of Omicron. |
| She told the programme: "It is not a case of having protective measures and businesses are damaged, or having no proactive measures and everything is fine. | She told the programme: "It is not a case of having protective measures and businesses are damaged, or having no proactive measures and everything is fine. |
| "It is the difference between having protective measures that stem transmission, or allowing transmission to go completely uncontrolled - in which case the impact on business is even greater and even more damaging." | "It is the difference between having protective measures that stem transmission, or allowing transmission to go completely uncontrolled - in which case the impact on business is even greater and even more damaging." |
| The lifting of restrictions was welcomed by business groups. | The lifting of restrictions was welcomed by business groups. |
| CBI Scotland said last week that it was "a huge relief to firms desperate to start trading their way to recovery after a difficult festive period". | CBI Scotland said last week that it was "a huge relief to firms desperate to start trading their way to recovery after a difficult festive period". |
| RULES: What are the restrictions in Scotland? | RULES: What are the restrictions in Scotland? |
| LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives | LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives |
| CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? | CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? |
| NUMBERS: Four key figures to watch out for | NUMBERS: Four key figures to watch out for |