First minister Nicola Sturgeon has introduced that each one of Scotland’s authorized Covid restrictions, together with the sporting of masks, will come to an finish on 21 March.
Nevertheless, Ms Sturgeon mentioned Scots ought to proceed to self-isolate at residence in the event that they take a look at optimistic “for now” – as she promised to set out a take a look at and hint plan for Scotland in March.
The SNP chief additionally vowed to uphold the “precept” of free Covid exams, placing her administration on a collision course with Boris Johnson’s authorities.
Mr Johnson mentioned free Covid testing for the general public will probably be scrapped in England from 1 April, as he confirmed that the requirement to self-isolate will finish in England on Thursday.
Mr Sturgeon mentioned it was “deeply regrettable” that she had no “readability” on funding for continued testing in Scotland from the UK authorities.
“We contemplate it essential, according to the precept of well being care free on the level of use, that [tests] ought to stay free in any circumstance during which the federal government recommends testing,” she advised the Scottish parliament.
The SNP chief added: “It’s a precept we are going to search to uphold in our longer-term plan for testing.”
Ms Sturgeon mentioned that lateral circulation exams “will stay freed from cost within the transition part” throughout February and March – however she additionally eased the frequency of the testing her authorities expects.
As a substitute of recommendation to check earlier than going out wherever, the primary minister requested Scots to check for Covid “at the very least twice per week” – significantly if you will a “crowded place”.
She added: “I additionally need to emphasise that in Scotland, for now, we are going to proceed to ask those that take a look at optimistic for Covid to isolate for the really helpful interval.”
Mr Johnson mentioned testing had develop into “a lot much less priceless” in limiting the unfold of Covid, and mentioned the £2bn-a-month price of the system meant the federal government needed to “cut back” what it might supply.
Ms Sturgeon made plain her “frustration on the place of the UK authorities” – and mentioned her officers have been nonetheless searching for readability on whether or not the UK Treasury would “demand as a substitute that funding is taken from elsewhere within the well being price range”.
In the meantime, the primary minister mentioned Scotland’s controversial Covid certification scheme will “come to an finish” on 28 February.
She additionally introduced on Tuesday that the authorized requirement for folks to put on face coverings in some settings would develop into “steering” from 21 March.
The primary minister mentioned utilizing restrictions to suppress the unfold of Covid was “not as needed as as soon as was” – saying the technique was now to “handle Covid successfully”.
Kaynak: briturkish.com