PEOPLE in Scotland will no longer have to wear a face covering in places of worship or while attending a marriage ceremony, civil partnership registration, funeral service or commemorative event.

The new measures come into place from Monday.

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They are part of a “phased” relaxation of the remaining Covid rules, which still include a legal requirement to wear face masks on public transport.

The National:

When will mask rules for shops, hospitality venues and public transport change in Scotland?

The wider legal requirement for wearing face masks – which applies to shops, public transport and some other indoor settings – will be converted to guidance on April 18.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stressed the Scottish Government will “continue to encourage the wearing of face coverings in certain indoor places, especially where significant numbers of people are present”.

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The latest Covid figures for Scotland 

Before the weekend, coronavirus hospital cases in Scotland were still at more than 2000.

On Thursday, there were 2383 people in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, a record high.

That same day, 41 coronavirus-linked deaths and 6935 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded.