Nicola Sturgeon update RECAP: No extension of vaccine passport scheme
The First Minister will make an announcement on potential changes to Covid-19 restrictions in the Scottish Parliament shortly after 2pm on Tuesday.
Vaccine passports came into effect in October and currently require nightclubs and large venues to only allow entry to people who can show they have been double jagged.
You can follow the latest updates from the chamber in our live blog.
Nicola Sturgeon to give update on vaccine passport
The chamber is reacting to Nicola Sturgeon’s update:
Scottish Tory health spokesperson Sandesh Gulhane says “the uncertainty that this government has left hanging over businesses for the past two weeks has been unnecessary and unacceptable.”
Anas Sarwar hits out at Nicola Sturgeon saying “we have spent months pursuing the incorrect priority”
He adds: “Transmission has not fallen, in actual fact transmission is up, we have wasted that time.”
Alex Cole-Hamilton says the Scottish government’s evidence paper on efficacy of vaccine passports released last week was “mince”.
He asks if it is “embarrassment” that is preventing the government from abolishing the scheme altogether.
Nicola Sturgeon says that scheme is being adopted across Europe.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged individual Scots and businesses to continue to follow Covid-19 measures as part of a “social compact” to keep the transmission of Covid-19 down.
Speaking in Holyrood, the First Minister said the current state of the pandemic was “precarious” in Scotland, with cases rising in various different countries across Europe.
She urged Scots to continue with basic hygiene measures, the wearing of face coverings, work from home where possible and get vaccinated.
She also asked that a lateral flow test is taken before anyone socialises or mixes with those outside their own household.
Nicola Sturgeon says guidance is already available to local authorities in regards to seasonal events such as nativity plays.
The guidance states that there should not be live audiences, but the FM confirms that such guidance is under review.