- Expanded testing needed to keep cases down.
People attending venues covered by Scotland's COVID certification
scheme are to be given the option of providing a recent negative
lateral flow test for the virus, as an alternative to proof of
vaccination.
It means that individuals who received a vaccine not recognised
by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency), or have experienced difficulty accessing their
vaccination record, will be able to attend venues covered by the
scheme.
The change, which takes effect on December 6th, comes
as First Minister announced that there will
not be an extension of the scheme to additional settings, such as
cinemas and pubs. Instead, she told MSPs that whenever people
intend to socialise or mix with people from other households -
whether that is in a pub, restaurant, house or shopping centre –
they should do an LFD test first.
The certification scheme will continue to apply to major events
and late-night venues. Regulations and guidance for businesses
affected by the change will be published in the coming
days.
The First Minister said: "This change makes it possible for
people who cannot be vaccinated, or who are not yet fully
protected, to make use of the scheme. That will I know be
welcomed.
"The new rule will also, we hope, encourage the greater use of
regular lateral flow testing and it will still meet our aim of
reducing the risk of transmission, within higher risk venues.
“We encourage everyone to continue to test themselves regularly
and particularly before you meet up with people from outside your
household, whether you are meeting in your home or public
place. If you test positive stay home, isolate and take a
PCR test.
"Certification continues to have a role in helping us to increase
vaccine uptake to reduce the risk of transmission of Coronavirus,
to alleviate pressure on our health and care services and to
allow higher risk settings to continue to operate.
"Our NHS is still under pressure. We need to consider any
proportionate measures we can take so that Covid case numbers
start to fall, rather than levelling off.”
The Scottish Government continues to encourage people to take
lateral flow tests twice a week, and whenever they plan to meet
people, including through the current “Living Safely for Us All”
public health campaign.
Background
An estimated 23,000 international students in Scotland have
received vaccines which are not recognised by the MHRA.
Proof of vaccination is currently required to enter:
- late night venues open after midnight with alcohol and music
and dancing
- unseated indoor live events, with more than 500 people in the
audience
- unseated outdoor live events, with more than 4,000 people in
the audience
- any event, of any nature, which has more than 10,000 people
in attendance
- no personal data is stored on the NHS Scotland Covid Check
app
Reaction from the
Scottish Retail Consortium
The First Minister has announced that Covid vaccine certification
will not be extended to eateries such as coffee shops, quick
service restaurants, and cafes located inside shops. The Scottish
Retail Consortium, which submitted a response to the government’s
evidence paper on Covid passports late last week, has praised the
decision.
It comes as Scotland’s retailers continue to face challenging
trading conditions, as we enter what istraditionally the biggest
month of the year for the sector. The shop vacancy rate is at a
six-year high, and shopper footfall and retail sales are yet to
claw their way back to pre-pandemic levels. December
traditionally accounts for £1 in every £9 spent during the year,
and the revenues generated often help tide those stores over the
leaner winter months when retail sales are at their lowest.
Retailers have invested significantly to make their stores as
Covid-secure as they can be for customers and staff, and continue
to go above and beyond the government’s own baseline Covid
measures.
SRC has previously sounded concerns about extending the use of
Covid passports to coffee shops, quick service restaurants and
retailers’ cafes, especially if it led to more frictions and
flashpoints between customers and store colleagues.
David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said:
“After last years late lockdowns retailers will have been
nervously holding their breath ahead of today’s announcement; and
will be delighted to see a reprieve from further restrictions.
Credit is due to Scottish Ministers for listening to the
representations put forward by the industry and concluding it
would not be proportionate to proceed with an extension of the
Covid vaccine certification scheme to coffee shops, quick service
restaurants and retailers’ cafes.
“Scotland’s retailers can now hopefully focus on delivering for
customers as we enter the biggest trading month of the year.
That’s crucial as strong sales in November and December can
generate the revenues which will tide stores through the leaner
post-Christmas winter period. “
