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Vaccine passports are to be required for entry to nightclubs and many large events in Scotland from later this month, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The plans will apply to indoor and outdoor events, and will need to be signed off by MSPs next week.

Ms Sturgeon said the move was needed to help stem the recent surge in the number of cases.

A further 6,107 people have tested positive, with the number of people in hospital doubling in the past 10 days.

And several areas of Scotland are among the regions with the highest rates of the virus in Europe.

Read more here.

That's all from the live page team today. Please take care and stay safe.

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The Federation of Small Businesses has said that many venues will not welcome the introduction of vaccine certificates, but will accept the change over further restrictions.

Scotland policy chair Andrew McRae said the system needs to be user friendly and "must help, not hinder" businesses that were among the last to reopen.

He said: "There can be no rush to extend where these so-called passports are to be used until we see how the new system works.

“Lastly, assuming parliamentary approval, it’ll be vitally important for the public to accept these passport rules and for firms to have support from police and regulators as they enforce them.”

A hen has been identified as the source of the strange noises heard during Douglas Ross's contribution in the chamber this afternoon.

Alex Cole-Hamilton says his party is concerned about what some have described as "medical ID cards".

The Scottish Lib Dems leader says: "This is an illiberal step."

He asks if the first minister has faith in the IT systems involved.

The first minister says she shares some of these concerns, but stresses the need to consider every tool that can reduce the harm caused by Covid.

Using vaccine certification can help, she says, and points out that IT systems are "not creaking".

Ms Sturgeon says the government's strategy is to reduce virus levels in order to reduce harms, which was set out previously and "should be known" to Mr Sarwar.

She says she takes issue with the Labour leader's comments about winter planning as the government had started it a "long time ago" and had set out their NHS recovery plan last week.

She insists contact tracing is working, and on the booster programme is awaiting JCVI recommendations.

"People can hear from me I am frustrated," she says - having not yet received updated JCVI advice on vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds.

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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar begins by saying the virus is "out of control" and says the tools the government is responsible for - such as contact tracing - are not working.

He says there is "widespread confusion" of quarantine and testing requirements.

Mr Sarwar asks what engagement is being done with sectors involved in the wider use of vaccine certificates.

He also asks whether mobile vaccine clinics could be used in schools and large work places, and what planning is being done for the winter pressures.

Finally he asks the first minister to clarify her overall strategy - whether it is virus suppression, elimination or herd immunity - because he claims none are happening.

The first minister says the government is trying to learn as it goes along.

Ms Sturgeon tells the chamber: "Nobody wants to impose greater restrictions."

She says she does not want to see people die unavoidably from Covid. Ruling anything out would be irresponsible, she insists.

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Douglas Ross says we have to learn to live with Covid-19 and focus on the vaccine and Test and Protect.

The Scottish Conservative leader says businesses are in survival mode and he calls on their concerns to be addressed.

He calls for guidance for buisiness and meaningful dialogue. There are some strange noises from the link to Mr Ross's home.

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As the FM concludes her update, she speaks about vulnerable people including those asked to shield at the start of the pandemic who are "anxious about the current situation".

She says some people still worry about leaving their homes when cases are so high and will be "put at risk by people not wearing face coverings" or following other Covid precautions.

She urges people to get vaccinated and follow the guidelines to protect themselves and others across Scotland.

Analysispublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 1 September 2021

15:17 BST 1 September 2021

Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland News Correspondent

The number of 18 to 29-year-olds who have had their first jab has scarcely moved for several weeks. More than a quarter of them remain unvaccinated.

It is now reasonable to assume that in nearly all cases this will be because the person has decided against vaccination – not because they have slipped through the net or could not be vaccinated for medical reasons. Drop in centres are open for the unvaccinated across Scotland.

So should persuading more of them to get a jab be about a carrot or a stick?

The carrot could involve communications and marketing targeted towards them. This might deal with the specific concerns some young people may have, address myths and disinformation and stress how vaccinating as many people as possible gives greater protection to the most vulnerable in society.

The stick, of course, is the need for vaccination certification – in other words “vaccine passports” – to attend certain events and venues.

Health professionals and politicians certainly hoped positive messaging and encouragement alone would persuade more people to get vaccinated. Now that certification is firmly on the radar will more young people decide to get jabbed?

The first minister confirms that from Friday, people will be able to request a QR code as their vaccination record.

Until now people have largely only been able to request a paper copy through the post.

Ms Sturgeon says the introduction of vaccine certificates is a "significant move" and not one she would take lightly, which is why she is seeking parliamentary approval.

Ms Sturgeon says the government does not believe that certificates should ever be a requirement for key services or in settings where people have no choice over attendance.

This includes public transport, education, access to medical services or shops.

She also says the government does not “currently consider it appropriate” to introduce certificates for the hospitality industry as a whole.

However she says the government will keep this under review.

The FM proposes a full debate and vote next week on using vaccine certificates in "limited" settings.

If agreed on, this would be introduced later this month once all adults have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated in the following places:

• Nightclubs and adult entertainment venues
• unseated indoor live events, with more than 500 people
• unseated outdoor live events, with more than 4,000 people
• any event which has more than 10,000 people

Ms Sturgeon says it would be "grossly irresponsible" to rule out a return of restrictions.

The first minister says: "We also continue to do everything possible to drive up the already high uptake of vaccine."

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Ms Sturgeon warns against any complacency creeping in.

The first minister says: "The situation we face just now is fragile and serious. We must stem the rise in cases."

Case levels in Scotland are 80% higher now than they were last week, and five times higher than they were four weeks ago, the first minister says.

Test positivity has also risen – from around 5% at the start of August to 11.5% today.

Ms Sturgeon highlights the difficulties the Delta variant is posing.

She says we must all play a part with mitigations.

"I am hopeful that we can turn the corner without having to re-impose any restrictions."

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The first minister says 4,108,804 people have received a first dose and 3,691,066 have now had both doses of a covid vaccine.

That includes 95% of people over 40 who are now fully vaccinated, as well as 71% of 30 to 39-year-olds, and 51% of 18 to 29-year-olds.

However, 74% of 18 to 29-year-olds have had a first dose, so the proportion becoming fully vaccinated are expected to continue to increase in the days ahead.

Almost exactly half of all 16 and 17-year-olds have now had the first jag. Vaccination in this age group started relatively recently, and work to increase uptake further is ongoing.

All 16 and 17-year-olds who haven’t received a jag yet, should have received a letter yesterday inviting them to an appointment.

Nicola Sturgeon announced that 629 people are in hospital with Covid – 44 more than yesterday.

And 59 people are in intensive care, which is five more than yesterday.

A further nine deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, which takes the total number of deaths registered, under the daily definition, to 8127.

Nicola Sturgeon begins her statement with the daily statistics

The first minister says 6,170 positive tests have been returned.

She says this is 11.5% of all the tests carried out.

People in Scotland can currently request their vaccine certificate sent through the post if, for example, they require one to travel abroad.

The document is widely used in a digital scheme for entry into countries and amenities across Europe. Scotland meanwhile is currently developing its own digital system which should be ready mid-September.

The BBC has learned it could be used for entry into nightclubs and other events.