It is still a legal requirement in Scotland to wear a face mask or covering on public transport and most indoor public settings. This will continue until at least early April 

Free tests will no longer be generally available from 18th of April. Up until now, people in Scotland have been able to get a supply of free LFD tests – this will cease from 18th of April. Routine testing will end, even for people who have symptoms.

The First Minister of Scotland was updating the Scottish Parliament on the measures in place to protect everyone in the community.

Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Free testing will not generally be available to the wider population. Instead, our advice will be that if you have symptoms of Covid – or indeed symptoms of the flu, or any other infectious illness – you should stay at home in order to aid your recovery.”

The current stats for Covid in the UK

185,273 people have died in the UK where Covid is mentioned on the death certificate – 814 in the week ending 4th of March.

By nation it breaks down as:

• Wales – 9,722 deaths
• Scotland – 13.393 deaths
• Northern Ireland – 4,333
• England – 156,682

In the UK 13,548 people are in hospital due to Covid. And 280 are in mechanical ventilation beds because of the virus.

In the UK a third of the population aged 12 and over have not had a third booster vaccination against Covid.

A staggering 19,820,181 people in the UK currently have Covid according to those who have been tested. The number of people actually with Covid will be much higher because:

Testing guidance in England has changed

Most people without COVID-19 symptoms do not need to get lateral flow tests.

Check advice in other parts of the UK:

• Scotland – NHS Inform: COVID-19 test if you do not have symptoms
• Wales – Welsh Government: rapid lateral flow COVID-19 tests if you do not have symptoms
• Northern Ireland – Department of Health: rapid tests

In Scotland from 18 April:

• most people without symptoms will no longer be asked to take COVID-19 tests
• free lateral flow devices (LFDs) for the purposes of twice weekly routine testing will no longer be available for the general population given the changing advice, but will continue to be free for any purpose for which testing continues to be advised – for clinical care, for health and social care workers and for people visiting vulnerable individuals in care homes or hospitals
• until the end of April, people with symptoms should still isolate and get a PCR test
• vaccinated close contacts of someone with COVID-19 should continue to test daily for seven days with LFDs