Covid in Scotland: Vaccine certificates proposed

Summary

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says that if MSPs approve, vaccine certificates will be required later this month for those attending venues like nightclubs
A similar plan for England had been announced earlier in the summer
Ms Sturgeon says that despite positive cases remaining high she has no plans to reimpose restrictions
In the past 24 hours, 6,170 new cases of the virus have been reported, which was 11.5% of all tests carried out
The latest National Records of Scotland statistics reveal that in the week up to 29 August, 48 death certificates mentioned Covid - that was seven more than the previous week
Twenty-eight deaths were of people aged over 75; 11 were people aged 65 to 74 and nine were under 65
About one in 20 school pupils tested positive for Covid-19 after coming into contact with another child who had the virus, research by Public Health Scotland has found

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

First minister's statement is next...published at 14:45 British Summer Time 1 September 2021
The first minister will now update MSPs on the state of coronavirus in Scotland.
It comes after more than 6,000 cases were confirmed yesterday - the third highest on record.
The latest figures show 585 people are in hospital. That is 221 more than seven days ago.
Nicola Sturgeon is not expected to announce the return of any Covid restrictions, but will appeal for people to take extra caution and follow the current public health guidance.
Analysispublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 1 September 2021
Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland News Correspondent
Case numbers are high and pressure on the NHS is increasing but there is little scope for the Scottish government to tighten restrictions significantly again at present.
It takes around three weeks for restrictions to affect case numbers
This means any new rules on business - for instance closing nightclubs again - would be needed immediately as the UK government's furlough scheme ends in four weeks’ time.
The business community - whose relationship with some politicians is already strained - would want compelling evidence that specific rules were needed.
Meanwhile travel bans within the UK and other limits on personal freedoms may be hard for a weary public to accept.
Some may feel they were being asked to suffer for the sake of those who have refused vaccination or acted recklessly.
The court of public opinion will be crucial. Would Scots accept new restrictions while people in England have "freedom"? Would people worry their sacrifices earlier in the crisis had been for nothing? Or does relieving pressure on the NHS matter more than anything else?
Covid in Scotland: One in 20 pupils developed virus after contactpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 1 September 2021
Image source, Getty Images
About one in 20 school pupils tested positive for Covid-19 after coming into contact with another child with the virus, according to new research.
Public Health Scotland found that 25,507 school pupils received a positive test for the virus in 2020-21.
Of those, researchers studied 1,503 who had been in contact with at least 10 of their fellow pupils.
A low percentage then contracted the virus, but it increased as the Alpha and Delta variants emerged.
The data showed 5.2% of pupils went on to develop Covid-19, externalin the two weeks after coming into contact with a schoolmate with the virus.
Covid: Almost half of Kirkintilloch school's pupils absent during surgepublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 1 September 2021
Image source, Google
Image caption,
More than 400 pupils are absent from St Ninian's High School in Kirkintilloch
Almost half of pupils at an East Dunbartonshire secondary school were absent on Tuesday due to Covid.
The BBC understands more than 400 did not attend St Ninian's in Kirkintilloch which has a school roll of 850.
East Dunbartonshire Council confirmed one school had a high absence rate and families had adopted a "cautious approach".
The EIS union said it was an indication of the high levels of Covid in the community.
Read more here.
Welcomepublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 1 September 2021
Image source, Reuters
Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Scotland's live page coverage of the first minister's Covid-19 update, on Wednesday 1 September 2021.
Nicola Sturgeon will update MSPs on the state of coronavirus in Scotlandfrom 2.50pm.
.It comes after more than 6000 cases were confirmed yesterday - the third highest on record.
The latest figures show 585 people are in hospital. That's 221 more than 7 days ago.
Ms Sturgeon is not expected to announce the return of any Covid restrictions, but will appeal for people to take extra caution and follow the current public health guidance.