Covid in Scotland: How will the rules change?

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that most of the remaining legal Covid restrictions in Scotland will come to an end on 21 March.

However, the legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport and most indoor public settings will remain until at least early April due to a spike in Covid case numbers.

At present, businesses are legally required to take steps to reduce the spread of Covid, including physical distancing and screens.

That will end on 21 March, as will the legal requirement to retain customers' contact details.

It had been expected that the the legal requirement to wear face coverings in shops, hospitality venues and public transport would also be downgraded to guidance on the same date.

However, Ms Sturgeon said it would be remain as a regulation for "a further short period" because of the surge in cases.

The measure will be reviewed again before the Easter recess, and is expected to become guidance in early April.

New guidance on working from home came into effect on Monday 31 January. This recommends that employers consider a hybrid working system, with staff spending some time in the office and some time at home.

The requirement for physical distancing in settings where certain people are exempt from wearing face coverings - like those leading religious services or carrying out some receptionist duties - was also reduced from 2m to 1m from 31 January.

The vaccine passport scheme - which covers nightclubs and large events - ended on Monday 28 February.

However, the app will remain operational for any business which wants to keep using it.

People who test positive for Covid in Scotland will be allowed to exit self-isolation after seven days if they have no fever and record two negative lateral flow tests.

The first of these tests must be taken on the sixth day after testing positive and then at least 24 hours later.

In addition, household contacts of people with the virus can take a lateral flow test every day for seven days rather than going into self-isolation.

This applies to everyone in the household under the age of 18 or anyone over that age who has had the first, second and booster Covid jabs.

If one of these tests is positive, self-isolation will then be required for that person.

Anyone identified as a close contact who is aged over 18 and four months and not fully vaccinated will still be asked to self-isolate for 10 days and take a PCR test.

For those with symptoms of Covid, the advice remains to book a PCR test.

People returning a positive lateral flow test who have no symptoms are no longer required to take a PCR test to confirm the result. Instead, they will be asked to isolate immediately and report their result online.

People are advised to take a lateral flow test at least twice a week - especially if they are going to a crowded place or mixing with someone who is clinically vulnerable.

However, that advice will end on 18 April, and people will no longer be asked to test regularly in workplaces, early learning and childcare settings, mainstream and special schools, and universities and colleges.

Close contacts of positive cases will continue to be advised to take lateral flow tests for seven days until the end of April, and those with symptoms will still be urged to get a PCR test. Contact tracing of positive cases will also continue until the end of April.

However, it is expected that all routine population-wide testing will stop at the end of April, including for those who have Covid symptoms. Contact tracing will end at the same time.

Secondary school pupils in Scotland have not been required to wear face coverings in classrooms since 28 February, although they will still be required in communal areas and when moving around school buildings.

Whole classes no longer need to self-isolate when a pupil tests positive, with only the closest contacts of positive cases required to test and isolate.

Carbon dioxide monitors - which assess how well-ventilated a space is - are also required in schools and childcare settings.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced an end to all remaining Covid restrictions in England, to be replaced by a "Living with Covid" plan.

People with Covid are no longer legally required to self-isolate, although there will be guidance that those who test positive should stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days.

Routine contact tracing will end and workers will no longer be required to tell their employer if they need to self-isolate.

Covid tests will no longer be free for most people from 1 April, and the use of Covid passports will no longer be recommended, except for international travel.

Wales expects to scrap all remaining Covid restrictions from 28 March, but will maintain some testing measures until July.

Legal measures have been replaced by guidance in Northern Ireland, which recommends that face masks are still worn in certain places, such as enclosed public spaces and health and social care settings.

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