All Covid rules in Scotland that haven't been axed - as face masks in schools to remain

Earlier today, the Scottish Government announced that secondary school pupils will still be required to wear face coverings beyond the October break.

The Chief Medical Officer said that while there are encouraging signs in the fight against the virus, a more cautious approach would allow more time for 12 to 15-year-olds to take up vaccination.

Recent public health data shows that just over 47% of people in this age group have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

The decision means that secondary-aged pupils, and staff in primary and secondary schools, will still be required to wear face coverings in communal areas or when moving around the building.

Face coverings must still be worn in the majority of indoor public settings (Getty Images)

When announcing the continuation of the measures, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said that the safety of staff and children amid the pandemic remains “priority”.

It has been more than two months since the majority of the remaining Covid restrictions were lifted in Scotland.

August 9 saw the country move beyond level zero, which paved the way for the reopening of nightclubs, while full capacity music and sports venues were back on the agenda once again.

The day was branded by many as “Freedom Day” as it was the biggest lifting of lockdown restrictions since the health crisis took hold in Scotland in March 2020.

But there are still some rules in place for Scots to bear in mind. Here is a reminder of all the health measures that remain in place.

Face coverings

Rules on face coverings for secondary pupils in Scotland have been extended (PA)

Scots must continue to wear a face covering in a number of indoor settings as part of the current measures.

This means that masks must be worn in a range of indoor public places, including the likes of shops, bars, cafes, visitor attractions and public transport.

The move is a contrast to England, which has removed the legal requirement for people to wear face coverings in these settings.

Scots are allowed to remove their face covering for when they are eating and drinking.

And there are also a number of exemptions to the rules for people with some health conditions - a full list can be found here.

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing details must still be taken in hospitality venues (Daily Record)

People must continue to provide their contact details when entering a range of hospitality venues as part of NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect scheme.

Scots can check into pubs and restaurants by scanning an official Test and Protect QR code at the door on their smartphone.

Or alternatively, the venue will provide customers with a sheet to pencil in their contact details.

The measure remains in place in a bid to break the chains of coronavirus transmission in the community.

International travel rules

There are still a number of rules for international travellers (DAILY RECORD)

Fully vaccinated Scots can travel to the majority of countries across the globe without the need to isolate on their return.

When arriving home from a non-red list country, Scots must take a PCR test within two days of their return to Scotland.

All travellers arriving in Scotland must fill in a passenger locator form before touching down.

Passengers who are not yet fully vaccinated must self-isolate at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days when arriving in Scotland from a non-red country. They must also take two tests during their period of quarantine

Scots are banned from travelling to a red list country, unless it is for an essential reason.

All travellers arriving in Scotland from a red list country must pay for at least 10 days of hotel quarantine, and must take two tests during their period of quarantine.

Only Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela remain on the red list.

Vaccine passports

Scots must show their vaccination status before entering a number of venues (PA)

Scots must show that they have received both coronavirus vaccines before entering the likes of nightclubs and some football stadiums.

Punters will be able to prove their vaccination status by showing a QR code from the NHS Scotland Covid Status smartphone app or through a downloaded PDF.

People can also show a paper copy that displays the times they received both jabs.

The full list of venues and events where this will be required includes:

• Late night premises with music, which serve alcohol at any time between midnight and 5am and have a designated place for dancing for customers
• Indoor events (unseated) with 500 more more people
• Outdoor events (unseated) with 4,000 or more people
• Any event with more than 10,000 people