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| Covid: Law on wearing face masks in Scotland is lifted | Covid: Law on wearing face masks in Scotland is lifted |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| 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. |
| Prof Jason Leitch says he is still worried about the "overwhelmed nature" of the health service | Prof Jason Leitch says he is still worried about the "overwhelmed nature" of the health service |
| Prof Jason Leitch says he is still worried about the "overwhelmed nature" of the health service | Prof Jason Leitch says he is still worried about the "overwhelmed nature" of the health service |
| People in Scotland are no longer legally required to wear face coverings in crowded indoor places like shops and restaurants, or on public transport. | People in Scotland are no longer legally required to wear face coverings in crowded indoor places like shops and restaurants, or on public transport. |
| However, the Scottish government and health experts are still strongly advising people to continue to wear masks voluntarily. | However, the Scottish government and health experts are still strongly advising people to continue to wear masks voluntarily. |
| It also means wearing face coverings in school corridors will not be mandatory - but it will be encouraged. | It also means wearing face coverings in school corridors will not be mandatory - but it will be encouraged. |
| The move brings Scotland into line with the rest of the UK. | The move brings Scotland into line with the rest of the UK. |
| Both ScotRail and the ferry operator CalMac are strongly recommending that passengers continue to wear face coverings. | Both ScotRail and the ferry operator CalMac are strongly recommending that passengers continue to wear face coverings. |
| The testing regime has also changed, with free lateral flow tests no longer available to the general population. | The testing regime has also changed, with free lateral flow tests no longer available to the general population. |
| People without symptoms are no longer required to take the regular tests, but PCR tests will be available to people with symptoms until the end of April. | People without symptoms are no longer required to take the regular tests, but PCR tests will be available to people with symptoms until the end of April. |
| Community cases of the virus are falling but the number of Covid-positive hospital patients remains high. | Community cases of the virus are falling but the number of Covid-positive hospital patients remains high. |
| How well have Scotland and the UK coped with Covid? | How well have Scotland and the UK coped with Covid? |
| What difference will lifting face mask laws make? | What difference will lifting face mask laws make? |
| Covid in Scotland: The latest cases | Covid in Scotland: The latest cases |
| Scotland's national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch, said coronavirus was now being dealt with through common sense and guidance, rather than law. | Scotland's national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch, said coronavirus was now being dealt with through common sense and guidance, rather than law. |
| He acknowledged the daily case rate remained high but he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that vaccination and therapeutics had "changed the game". | He acknowledged the daily case rate remained high but he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that vaccination and therapeutics had "changed the game". |
| He said: "We're still cautious as public health advisers because we're still worried about the overwhelmed nature of our health systems around the world - not just here, but Scotland is no exception. | He said: "We're still cautious as public health advisers because we're still worried about the overwhelmed nature of our health systems around the world - not just here, but Scotland is no exception. |
| "Our emergency departments are struggling, our hospitals are struggling, not just with Covid - with backlog, with everything else coming in that has waited until this point to come forward." | "Our emergency departments are struggling, our hospitals are struggling, not just with Covid - with backlog, with everything else coming in that has waited until this point to come forward." |
| During the pandemic, many people have been waiting before approaching the health service with their illness. | During the pandemic, many people have been waiting before approaching the health service with their illness. |
| Face coverings were still being worn by some at Glasgow's Queen Street Station on Monday | Face coverings were still being worn by some at Glasgow's Queen Street Station on Monday |
| Some bus passengers were still opting to wear face masks on buses in Edinburgh | Some bus passengers were still opting to wear face masks on buses in Edinburgh |
| Professor Stephen Reicher, a behavioural psychologist at St Andrews University, said people should wear face coverings to protect vulnerable members of the community, rather than themselves. | Professor Stephen Reicher, a behavioural psychologist at St Andrews University, said people should wear face coverings to protect vulnerable members of the community, rather than themselves. |
| "If I choose not to wear a mask, I make it dangerous for somebody who's vulnerable and I take their choice away," he said. | "If I choose not to wear a mask, I make it dangerous for somebody who's vulnerable and I take their choice away," he said. |
| "So we should be acting as a community so everyone can go out in public and everybody can be safe." | "So we should be acting as a community so everyone can go out in public and everybody can be safe." |
| Asked whether it was too soon to lift the face mask rules, he said: "Personally, at the levels of Covid that we have now.... I think it's premature. But I don't want to quibble about that. | Asked whether it was too soon to lift the face mask rules, he said: "Personally, at the levels of Covid that we have now.... I think it's premature. But I don't want to quibble about that. |
| "The thing I want to stress is the advice... the public health advice is that for your safety and the safety of others, and so that as a community we can come out of this together, wear a mask in crowded places - very clear, very simple." | "The thing I want to stress is the advice... the public health advice is that for your safety and the safety of others, and so that as a community we can come out of this together, wear a mask in crowded places - very clear, very simple." |
| Hopes of a boost for business | Hopes of a boost for business |
| Alix, assistant manager at Maia Gifts in Glasgow city centre, said business had been quiet while office workers have been working from home and tourism has been curtailed. | Alix, assistant manager at Maia Gifts in Glasgow city centre, said business had been quiet while office workers have been working from home and tourism has been curtailed. |
| But they are beginning to see footfall rise. | But they are beginning to see footfall rise. |
| "People are starting to come back in for work, so it's started to pick up again. Hopefully the masks will be another wee boost for us," she said. | "People are starting to come back in for work, so it's started to pick up again. Hopefully the masks will be another wee boost for us," she said. |
| Alex said they will continue to maintain good hygiene practice, wiping surfaces and keeping the door open for ventilation. | Alex said they will continue to maintain good hygiene practice, wiping surfaces and keeping the door open for ventilation. |
| "In general we're hoping that people will be more comfortable coming into the city centre, having a bit more of a wander, branching out a bit more," she said. | "In general we're hoping that people will be more comfortable coming into the city centre, having a bit more of a wander, branching out a bit more," she said. |
| The latest spike in cases and hospitalisations in Scotland has been driven by the BA.2 Omicron variant of Covid. | The latest spike in cases and hospitalisations in Scotland has been driven by the BA.2 Omicron variant of Covid. |
| About one in 17 people in Scotland had the virus in week ending 9 April - down from one in 13 the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics. | About one in 17 people in Scotland had the virus in week ending 9 April - down from one in 13 the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics. |
| Public Health Scotland said there were more than 2,000 people in hospital with the virus on Thursday - but very few in intensive care. | Public Health Scotland said there were more than 2,000 people in hospital with the virus on Thursday - but very few in intensive care. |
| Professor Linda Bauld, a public health expert and an advisor to the Scottish government, said she was worried about a new variant taking hold. | Professor Linda Bauld, a public health expert and an advisor to the Scottish government, said she was worried about a new variant taking hold. |
| "I think we will have a good spring and summer, we will get through this wave and the pressure on the NHS from Covid will lessen," she said. | "I think we will have a good spring and summer, we will get through this wave and the pressure on the NHS from Covid will lessen," she said. |
| "But if we had a new variant in the future, the big scientific questions are: is it more transmissible? Is it more severe? And how do our vaccines and the protection conferred by vaccines respond to that variant? | "But if we had a new variant in the future, the big scientific questions are: is it more transmissible? Is it more severe? And how do our vaccines and the protection conferred by vaccines respond to that variant? |
| "That's why we need to keep up a threshold of testing in Scotland and around the world - the PCR testing that we can genomically sequence to find those variants." | "That's why we need to keep up a threshold of testing in Scotland and around the world - the PCR testing that we can genomically sequence to find those variants." |
| Sturgeon's mask | Sturgeon's mask |
| The national clinical director was also asked about a video showing Nicola Sturgeon not wearing a face mask during a campaign visit to a barber's in East Kilbride. | The national clinical director was also asked about a video showing Nicola Sturgeon not wearing a face mask during a campaign visit to a barber's in East Kilbride. |
| The matter has been reported to Police Scotland. | The matter has been reported to Police Scotland. |
| Prof Leitch said: "I haven't spoken to the first minister today, I imagine I'll speak to her later. | Prof Leitch said: "I haven't spoken to the first minister today, I imagine I'll speak to her later. |
| "My understanding is it was a matter of seconds. She realises the place is crowded, puts her face covering on. Which is actually what we're asking people to do. | "My understanding is it was a matter of seconds. She realises the place is crowded, puts her face covering on. Which is actually what we're asking people to do. |
| "The guidance is if you are in a crowded area inadvertently or deliberately, then put a face covering on and that will protect you and others." | "The guidance is if you are in a crowded area inadvertently or deliberately, then put a face covering on and that will protect you and others." |
| RULES: What are the restrictions in Scotland? | RULES: What are the restrictions in Scotland? |
| CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? | CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? |
| WHO?: 'The heart of our family': The lives lost to Covid | WHO?: 'The heart of our family': The lives lost to Covid |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scottish government | Scottish government |
| Coronavirus pandemic |