Scotland face mask rules to stay in place until at least April
Nicola Sturgeon says continued use of face coverings will help protect vulnerable people
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Your support makes all the difference.The legal requirement to wear a face mask on public transport and in other indoor settings in Scotland will remain in place until at least April.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs that the current spike in cases driven by BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron, meant that it was “prudent” for the health measure to remain in place.
While Ms Sturgeon said she knew this would be “disappointing”, she urged people to “be patient for a little while longer”.
The law on masks, which applies to public transport and enclosed public spaces, was due to be converted to guidance on 21 March. However, the legal requirement for certain premises to retain customer contact details will be dropped as planned.
The first minister said: “Given the current spike in case numbers, we consider it prudent to retain this requirement in regulation for a further short period.
“I know this will be disappointing for businesses and service providers such as day care services.
“However, ensuring continued widespread use of face coverings will provide some additional protection – particularly for the most vulnerable – at a time when the risk of infection is very high, and it may help us get over this spike more quickly.”
The update comes as the number of coronavirus patients in hospital has continued to rise in the country, hitting the highest level for more than a year.
There were 1,996 people in hospital on Monday with Covid-19, up 191 on the previous day, with 33 in intensive care, up six.
Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish parliament she was aiming for the same “long-term position as England” and that advice on testing would also change next month, saying that from 18 April “we will no longer advise people without symptoms to test twice weekly”.
She added: “With the exception of health and care settings, the advice to test regularly will also end from 18 April for workplaces, and for early learning and childcare settings, mainstream and special schools, and universities and colleges.”
People who are a close contact of someone confirmed as having Covid will continue to be advised to do daily lateral flow tests until the end of April, Ms Sturgeon added. And those with symptoms of the virus will be advised to get a PCR test up until that date.
After that, Ms Sturgeon said: “Our intention is that from the end of April all routine population-wide testing will end, including for those who have symptoms.
“Contact tracing will end at this point too – although people with symptoms of respiratory illness will be advised to stay at home.”
Speaking about the changes she added: “Today marks steady progress back to normal life and a more sustainable way of managing this virus.”
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