NICOLA Sturgeon has revealed that the Scottish Government plans to drop the requirement to self-isolate for all close contacts of a Covid-19 case when the country moves beyond Level 0.
The First Minister said her administration intended to remove the requirement as long as the contact has received both vaccines and had a negative PCR test.
She announced the move when she updated Holyrood today when it was recalled virtually for a statement on the easing of coronavirus restrictions saying it would apply when the country moves "beyond Level 0", with an indicative date of August 9 previously set out.
Sturgeon added that she has instructed education advisers to investigate if the self-isolation requirement for school pupils can be removed and what has to be done to do so.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon confirms move to Level 0 Covid restrictions with 'modifications'
"I want to confirm our future intentions in relation to the requirement for close contacts of positive cases to self-isolate. We know how onerous and disruptive this is," she said.
"So, firstly, when we move beyond level 0, we intend to remove the blanket requirement for close contacts to self-isolate, as long as they are double vaccinated - with at least two weeks having passed since the second dose - and take a PCR test that comes back negative. We will publish guidance on the practical operation of this shortly.
"Secondly, as part of our preparations for the new academic term, we have asked our education advisory group for advice on whether, to what extent and with what mitigations we can remove the self-isolation requirement for young people in education settings who are close contacts of positive cases. We will set out our conclusions well in advance of the new term."
She added: "We are of course still waiting for advice from the JCVI on whether children over 12 should be vaccinated.
"Lastly, from next Monday, self-isolation will no longer be required for people arriving from countries on the amber list, provided they are fully vaccinated through a UK vaccination programme and take a PCR test on the second day after arrival."
But she stressed: "For the avoidance of doubt, let me be clear that anyone testing positive for, or experiencing symptoms of, Covid will still require to isolate for ten days."
Earlier she announced that Scotland will move to Level 0 on July 19 as planned, but mitigations such as mandatory face coverings will remain in place.
She said lifting certain mitigations would “put all of us at greater risk”, as some measures are relaxed.
“So while Scotland will move to Level 0 from next Monday, we will do so with certain modifications to our indicative plans,” she said.
“This is intended to ensure that our pace of easing restrictions is sensible in light of the challenge we continue to face from the Delta variant.
READ MORE: Scotland Covid Level 0: What are the current restrictions?
“And I will confirm that certain mitigations – such as the mandatory wearing of face coverings – will remain in place, not just now but, in all likelihood, for some time to come.
“Measures like the continued wearing of face coverings are important, not just to give added protection to the population as a whole, but also to give protection and assurance to those amongst us who are particularly vulnerable and previously had to shield.”
She later added that continuing to work from home if possible would be advised.
She also said that Covid-related pressure on the NHS is “of concern” to the Scottish Government with hospital admissions and intensive care cases spiking in recent weeks, rising from 171 people in hospital and 18 people in intensive care three weeks ago to 506 and 42 respectively in the latest data.
“Hopefully, with new cases starting to fall, we will also see hospital admissions fall over the next few weeks,” she said.
“But, at the moment, the pressure on the NHS is of concern.
“First and foremost, it means a significant number of people suffering illness. It also means more pressure on a workforce that has already given so much.
“And, of course, it holds back NHS recovery. Every hospital bed occupied by a Covid patient is one less available to tackle the backlog of non-Covid care.”
The latest figures show that the total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 2529 - 11.5% of all tests.
- The total number of confirmed cases is now 318,566
- There were 506 people in hospital yesterday – 37 more than the previous day
- And 41 people were in intensive care - one more than the previous day
- Four more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths registered, under the daily definition, to 7761
- A total of 3,941,571 people have now received a first dose of the vaccine - an increase of 7163 since yesterday
- And 10,286 people got a second dose yesterday, bringing the total number of second doses to 2,903,557
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