When will face coverings not be compulsory here in Scotland?published at 14:35 British Summer Time 3 August 2021

14:35 BST 3 August 2021

Question from Kenny in South Ayrshire

Image source, Getty Images

For now, face coverings will still be legally required in Scotland.

The first minister said that despite the lifting of restrictions next Monday, face coverings must be worn in all the same indoor settings as is the case now.

She said this would be kept under review, but added: "My expectation is that face coverings are likely to be mandated in law for some time to come".

So there's no date yet for when you will not be legally required to wear a face covering in some settings.

In England, the legal requirement to wear a face covering has ended. But the UK government still says it "expects and recommends" the continued wearing of masks in crowded areas such as public transport.

The first minister says Scottish schools will retain most other mitigations, in line with advice from the government's expert advisory sub group.

This means:

• Staff must keep one metre distance from each other and pupils
• Face coverings will be retained for staff and children age 12 and over during lessons and inside school buildings

Ms Sturgeon also says the guidance on ventilation in schools and day care buildings, making clear that all must have access to CO2 monitoring.

She says that by the October half term, assessments of the quality of ventilation in schools will be completed and £10m will be made available to local authorities to support this work.

The first minister announces changes to the requirements for self isolation:

• Adults who have symptoms of or test positive are still required to self isolate
• Adults identified as close contacts of someone who tests positive are no longer required to automatically self isolate for 10 days - instead if they are double vaccinated for more than two weeks they should get a PCR test and can end isolation if they test negative
• A similar change will be in effect for people age 17 and under who are not eligible for vaccination
• Under 5s are "encouraged but not required" to take PCR tests

Crucially, the changes mean the blanket isolation of whole school classes are "no longer routine", the first minister says, and most will be asked to self isolate for a much shorter period of time.

She says this is important for the start of new school year.

The first minister says an app is being developed that would allow "Covid status certification" - a so-called Covid passport.

Ms Sturgeon says this will not be ready for another month and the government has not yet decided if it will be used in settings such as nightclubs.

She says she recognises the ethical issues and will consult widely before making a decision.

Large-scale events can return under the new easing of restrictions from next Monday but the first minister says that - for a limited period - they will still have to apply for permission.

This applies to the organisers of large events outdoors of more than 5,000 and indoor of more than 2,000.

This allows risks to be assessed, she says.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says local restrictions and travel restrictions may be used in future to target outbreaks.

She also says that she continues to advise home-working "for now".

Ms Sturgeon urges employers to consider an "hybrid" model of home and office working for the longer term.

Ms Sturgeon says face coverings for over-12s in schools will remain for at least six weeks, along with the rules already in place such as teachers social distancing from pupils and each other.

The first minister says hospitality and indoor venues will still need to collect the contact details of customers.

Despite the lifting on restrictions next Monday, face coverings must be worn in all the same indoor settings as is the case now.

Ms Sturgeon says this is likely to be mandated in law for some time to come.

Nicola Sturgeon says she wants to make sure that any restrictions that stay in place are "necessary and proportionate".

She says the move beyond level zero will see the lifting of most of the "legally imposed restrictions" - notably on physical distancing and limits on the size of social gatherings.

It also means that from 9 August no venues will be legally required to close, Ms Sturgeon says.

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says vaccine take-up has been exceptional but it could be better in the 18 to 29 age group.

She says 12 to 17-year-olds with underlying health conditions are to be offered a first dose of the vaccine by the end of August.

Ms Sturgeon says the Scottish government is standing by to vaccinate more children if the JCVI approves that.

She says the vaccination programme could be with us for some time to come but it has already saved many lives.

The first minister confirms that no venues will be legally required to close from 9 August.

She also confirms a lifting on social distancing limits, changes which she says are "significant and hard earned".

• 4,014,212 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccine
• 3,231,331 have received their second dose

The FM begins her statement by announcing the latest Covid statistics:

• 1,016 new cases reported
• Of the 13,704 new tests for Covid that reported results, 8.1% were positive
• Nine new reported deaths of people who have tested positive
• 61 people were in intensive care
• 406 people were in hospital

Public health expert Prof Linda Bauld tells BBC Scotland the "basket of indicators" on the state of the pandemic is looking better than a month ago. New cases are down significantly, she says, as are hospital admissions.

Prof Bauld says: "A natural move now is to move away from the levels system and really try to identify a framework we can all live with in the coming weeks and months."

Image source, Mhairi Jarvie

Glyn Edwards is one of the 10,324 people who have died with Covid in Scotland over the last 18 months.

A proud Welshman who was a contemporary of Neil Kinnock at Cardiff University, in adulthood he made his home in his beloved Leith.

He was passionate about classical music, poetry and politics and was proud to be known as "McTaffy" in Robbie's Bar on Leith Walk, where he was a regular for more than 30 years.

He died with Covid on 11 April 2020, aged 76.

Image source, Sonia McKenna

Liz Khan was 67 and only eight months into her retirement when she died with coronavirus on 26 October last year.

She had worked as a support worker for adults with learning and physical disabilities for more than 20 years, and she was an elder at her local church in Motherwell.

"She devoted her life to her work, church and family," her children Stephen, Sonia and Lorraine told BBC Scotland.

Read more tributes to some of those who have lost their lives to the virus here.

Jillian Evans, a public health expert from NHS Grampian, told BBC Radio Scotland that many indicators were going in right direction and had been for some time – meaning there was light at end of tunnel.

But she said the risk, while greatly reduced, was still there. And, she added that the reason for declining case numbers could be reversed after the holidays ended and the summery weather subsided.

With that in mind, she said it made sense to maintain some measures until the vaccination programme was complete. She cited face masks and social distancing for mass events and busy places.

Ms Evans added that, in her view, 12 to 17-year-olds should be vaccinated.

Image source, PA Media

Larry Flanagan, of the EIS teachers’ union, said he was expecting a continued degree of caution from the first minister. He said testing would continue to be important as changes to self-isolation rules came down the pipeline.

Earlier today, he told BBC Radio Scotland that the rules in schools should broadly reflect those in society more widely. For example, if the guidance is to wear masks in crowded places then children should wear masks in corridors and communal areas. Similarly if you are allowed to take your mask off when seated in a restaurant, pupils should be allowed to remove them at their desks in class.

Mr Flanagan also said he it would be a "progressive step" to offer children the vaccine. He said: “I think they are entitled to be offered a vaccination, even in terms of the rights of the child. If we know that the vaccine is an effective preventative measure then why wouldn’t you offer it to young people?

"One of the issues of course is the broader potential harm to young people if they’re having to be off school because they are required to self-isolate. Even in terms of limiting the impact on their education I think offering the vaccine to 12 to 17-year-olds would be a progressive step.”

At present, only teenagers with certain health conditions will be vaccinated before schools return from the summer break. Mass vaccination is not currently advised for those under 18, however, this advice could change.

Image source, PA Media

Welcome to our live page where at 2pm First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will set out plans for the lifting of most legal Covid-19 restrictions in a statement to MSPs.

The whole of Scotland is currently in level zero of the virus alert system, and Ms Sturgeon has said she is hopeful of going further on 9 August.

This could see physical distancing rules relaxed, the return of office working and larger crowds at events.

However, Ms Sturgeon has said some measures such as the use of face coverings will remain in place "for some time".

You can follow the latest developments here, on BBC One Scotland and via the full live stream from the Scottish Parliament, using the tabs above.