Nicola Sturgeon delivered a speech on the state of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland at Holyrood earlier today.
The First Minister gave MSPs an update on the Scottish Government’s review of the vaccine certification scheme and how Scots can protect one another during the winter months.
Here is everything that was announced by Sturgeon during the speech.
No extension to vaccine passport scheme
After weeks of speculation over the extension of the vaccine certification scheme, Nicola Sturgeon announced that it will not be going ahead ‘at this stage’.
The First Minister admitted that her cabinet considered widening the scheme to cover theatres, cinemas and more hospitality venues.
But she said that the extension would not be “proportionate” due to the potential negative impact on businesses ahead of the festive spell.
She said: “This was a very finely balanced decision.
“However, I can confirm that at this stage we have decided not to extend the scope of the scheme.
“We have taken account of the fact that although our situation is precarious - cases are currently stable and indeed slightly declining, and we have considered the inevitable impact vaccine certification has on the operation of businesses and concluded that at this stage, extension would not be proportionate.”
Some rule changes to vaccine certification
Nicola Sturgeon announced that the current rules on vaccine certification will remain in place for at least a further three weeks.
This means that Scots will continue to show that they have received at least two doses of the vaccine to enter the likes of nightclubs, big events and some football matches.
But there will be a change coming into force from December 6.
Scots will be allowed to show a recent negative lateral flow test before entering the venues that have the vaccine requirement in place - opening them back up to Scots not yet fully vaccinated.
The First Minister said: “We have decided that from December 6 it will be possible to access venues or events covered by the scheme by showing either proof of vaccination, as now, or a recent negative lateral flow.”
Testing before Christmas parties
Scots were also urged to test themselves for Covid symptoms before heading out to parties during the festive season.
Nicola Sturgeon made an appeal for “extra effort” and called on the public to take lateral flow test before socialising or going Christmas shopping.
The First Minister said: “On any occasion that you intend to socialise or mix with people from other households- whether that is in a pub, restaurant, house or shopping centre - do a lateral flow test first.
“If it is positive, do not go. Self isolate and get a PCR instead.
“This way, you are minimising the risk of inadvertently passing the virus on even if you don’t have symptoms.”
Covid cases in Scotland ‘stable’
The average number of new Covid cases is said to be stabilising in Scotland after a slight increase over recent weeks.
But Nicola Sturgeon went on to say that the situation remains ‘precarious’ with fears that hospitals could become overwhelmed amid the winter flu season.
The First Minister also said that the reproduction rate of the virus (R number) is “hovering at or slightly above one”.
When referring to recent spike in Covid cases across Europe, Sturgeon added: “While, thankfully, we are not at this stage seeing the rapid rise in cases that others are experiencing, the situation remains precarious.
“Cases are on the rise, to a greater or lesser extend, in countries all around us, including here in the UK, and we’re also entering a period where - understandably - people will be socialising and mixing more than normal.”
Continue to follow the rules
Scots were also urged to continue to follow the remaining mitigations in place to prevent a winter spike.
Sturgeon said that all the rules and legal protections, such as the requirement to wear face coverings on public transport, in shops and when moving around in hospitality settings, would remain in place over the festive season.
She said: “So to everyone watching, my request in a nutshell is as follows - please pass it on to your friends and family.
"This is what all of us, government, businesses and individual citizens, must do together - as part of a social compact - to keep each other as safe as possible and allow us to live as freely as possible."
