Nicola Sturgeon Covid update RECAP: First Minister to address MSPs
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Ms Sturgeon said that the Scottish Government may be “close to” scrapping the requirement for secondary school pupils to wear face coverings.
Following her update, she addressed the Sue Gray report and accused the Prime Minister of “seriously and serially” misleading the House of Commons.
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Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of spending all of his time "saving his own skin" after a report on lockdown parties in No 10 blamed a "failure of leadership".
The SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has also called on the PM to resign despite Deputy PM Dominic Raab said Tory MPs "overwhelmingly" supported Mr Johnson.
You can recap on the events of the day by reading our blog.
Politics RECAP: Pressure mounts on Boris Johnson over Sue Gray report | Nicola Sturgeon to give Covid update
Sturgeon closed her update by urging the public to continue to take steps to protect ourselves and others against Covid.
She said: “First, get fully vaccinated as soon as you can.
“Second, continue to take care when socialising.
“In particular, take a lateral flow test every time, before meeting other people socially. And take the test as soon as possible before you go out, rather than several hours before.
“Finally, please take the other precautions that we know make a difference.
“Keep windows open if you are meeting indoors.
“Wear a face covering on public transport, in shops, and when moving about in hospitality.
“Talk to your employer about a return to hybrid working, and follow the guidance and precautions they adopt to make the workplace safe.
“And follow all advice on hygiene”.
Sturgeon closed her update by urging the public to continue to take steps to protect ourselves and others against Covid.
She said: “First, get fully vaccinated as soon as you can.
“Second, continue to take care when socialising.
“In particular, take a lateral flow test every time, before meeting other people socially. And take the test as soon as possible before you go out, rather than several hours before.
“Finally, please take the other precautions that we know make a difference.
“Keep windows open if you are meeting indoors.
“Wear a face covering on public transport, in shops, and when moving about in hospitality.
“Talk to your employer about a return to hybrid working, and follow the guidance and precautions they adopt to make the workplace safe.
“And follow all advice on hygiene”.
Douglas Ross has accused the First Minister of making a ‘power grab’ and has asked why the requirement for pupils to wear face masks in schools has not yet been removed.
Sturgeon has responded to Douglas Ross’ question about face masks in school.
She said that: “It is right to continue to take a precautionary approach to the protection of children”.
Jackie Baillie, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, called on the Scottish Government to install HEPA filters in every classroom, so that “thousands of young people are not further disadvantaged at such a crucial point in their lives”.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, criticised the First Minister for her lack of action of air quality in school classrooms.
Nicola Sturgeon addressed the Sue Gray report, and said: “I think there is very little public trust remaining in the integrity and the decision-making of the Prime Minister and his Government”.
“I think it is also impossible to reach any conclusion, other than the Prime Minister has seriously and serially misled the House of Commons,”.
Covid: Scotland may be 'close to' scrapping face coverings for pupils, Sturgeon says as school restrictions relaxed
Scotland may be “close to” scrapping the requirement for secondary school pupils to wear face coverings, Nicola Sturgeon has said following advice from public health experts.
Flu vaccinations for higher risk groups have now resumed. In December, flu vaccination was paused for some groups so priority could be given to the delivery of COVID booster jags.
Conservative MP Douglas Lumsden called on Nicola Sturgeon to remove Covid passport requirements.
He said: “Does the First Minister agree with me that the time has come to remove this financially disastrous restriction from the nighttime economy, which has been so devastated by the pandemic, and allow businesses to get back on their feet and properly protected tens of thousands of jobs which are still at risk?”
Nicola Sturgeon disagreed, and said: “There are reasons to be very optimistic and confident, but common sense and experience tells us that there are also reasons to be cautious”.
She accused the Scottish Conservatives of “opportunism” and “opposition for the sake of opposition”