Nicola Sturgeon has issued a reminder to Scots as England prepares for its so-called ‘Freedom Day’ from Monday.
People south of the border will see most legal Covid restrictions lifted from the July 19, with legislative powers on the likes of mask wearing and limits on household mixing completely abolished.
These rule changes will not be applied in Scotland next week - but restrictions will be eased from Monday as the country moves down to level zero.
The First Minister reminded Scots that a number of rules will remain in place across Scotland and warned that the virus “is still a threat”.
Writing on Twitter this afternoon, Sturgeon said: “As talk of ‘freedom day’ dominates, remember that it applies to England only.
“We’re all desperate to be ‘free’ of Covid but we can’t simply wish it away. Even though cases falling in Scotland just now, virus is still a threat.
“Keeping certain measures while we vaccinate is important.”
Scotland’s ‘Freedom Day’ is scheduled to take place on August 9, according to the Scottish Government’s roadmap to normality.
All major coronavirus restrictions are expected to removed across the country from that date, but laws on face coverings are expected to remain in place.
Nicola Sturgeon previously warned that rules on face masks will not be lifted in Scotland “any time really soon”.
Speaking at a press conference last week, the FM said: “If you say to me that we can lift free most of the restrictions we are living under, but one of the things we have to do to get that is wear face coverings in certain circumstances, then my personal view is that would be a price worth paying so we can do the things we enjoy in life, and doing them in a way that reduces the risk to other people.
“I don’t want to give any suggestion here that the ending of requirements for face coverings is coming any time really soon.”
Experts have expressed concerns over England’s Freedom Day plans and have suggested that it could lead to a ‘significant third wave of hospitalisations and deaths’.
Tory Health Secretary Sajid Javid even admitted that the UK could reach around 100,000 cases a day later in the summer.
But Mr Javid suggested that a new wave of Covid infections is expected to look different compared to previous spikes.
He told the Commons: "Cases are rising, propelled by the new, more transmissible delta variant. Hospitalisations are also rising, with sustained growth over the past month - and once again they will rise too.
“But we should be encouraged that hospitalisations are far lower than they were at this point during the previous wave.
“On the basis of the evidence in front of us, we do not believe that infection rates will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.”
The UK Government minister also tested positive for the virus - just 48 hours before England's 'Freedom Day'.
