- Face coverings to remain for now.
Legal requirements to wear face coverings on public transport and
most indoor public settings will continue until at least early
April given the current spike in Covid case numbers, First
Minister announced today.
Remaining legal requirements for businesses and service providers
to collect customer details for contact tracing, and to have
regard to and take reasonable measures set out in Covid guidance,
will end as planned on Monday 21 March.
The First Minister also confirmed that people without COVID-19
symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow
tests tests from 18 April. The change forms part of the Test and
Protect Transition Plan, which sets out how testing will become
more targeted, with the aim of reducing serious harm from
COVID-19.
The changes to Test and Protect mean that from 18 April:
- most people without symptoms will no longer be asked to take
COVID-19 tests
- free lateral flow devices (LFDs) for the purposes of twice
weekly routine testing will no longer be available for the
general population given the changing advice, but will continue
to be free for any purpose for which testing continues to be
advised – for clinical care, for health and social care workers
and for people visiting vulnerable individuals in care homes or
hospitals
- until the end of April, people with symptoms should still
isolate and get a PCR test
- vaccinated close contacts of someone with COVID-19 should
continue to test daily for seven days with LFDs
People who have symptoms of COVID-19 will still be able to book
PCR tests in the usual way until 30 April. From that date, test
sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be
advised that they need to seek a test. The public health advice
for people who feel unwell will be to stay at home until they
feel better, to reduce the risk of infecting other people.
The First Minister thanked the frontline Test and Protect
workforce for their efforts throughout the pandemic. Work is
on-going to support staff to explore other opportunities in the
public and private sector.
The First Minister said:
“Today marks a further decisive shift away from controlling Covid
through legal restrictions, and towards relying instead on advice
and guidance. But please remember, especially since case numbers
are so high, that this guidance and advice remains
important.
“Given current case numbers, and the desirability of getting
those back under control quickly, the wearing of face masks will
stay in place for at least another two weeks.
“Changes in Test and Protect will be phased between now and the
end of April. After Easter – from 18 April - we will stop
recommending that people who don’t have symptoms, should test for
Covid.
“This change will apply across the population –including in most
workplaces and in early years centres, schools, universities and
colleges.
“Then, at the end of April, routine testing will end – even for
people who have symptoms.
“At that time, physical test sites will close - although some
mobile testing units and capacity will be retained for possible
future use. Contact tracing will also end.
“Free testing will not generally be available to the wider
population. Instead, our advice will be that if you have symptoms
of Covid – or indeed symptoms of the flu, or any other infectious
illness - you should stay at home in order to aid your recovery.”
Background:
Test and Protect
Transition Plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
