Summary

  • The working from home guidance is set to be eased from 31 January, but pupils will have to continue to wear masks in class

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who updated MSPs at Holyrood, says that the Omicron variant of covid is now "in reverse" and employers can now look at a "hybrid" office return for staff

  • She tells parliament that hospital occupancy has fallen both in general wards and ICUs

  • Scottish Conservative Party leader Douglas Ross questions why there is no plan to end the mask wearing requirement for older pupils

  • The Metropolitan Police Service is investigating a "number of events" at Downing Street and Whitehall for potential breaches of Covid restrictions

  • The PM says the Met investigation into No 10 parties will "draw line" under the issue

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. 23 further deaths reported of people who tested positive
    Breaking

    A further 8,022 people have tested positive for Covid-19. This figure now includes cases identified using either a first LFD (Lateral Flow Device) or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) positive test

    There have been 23 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive.

    34 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently-confirmed Covid-19.

    1,392 people were in hospital yesterday with recently-confirmed Covid-19.

    4,406,999 people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination, 4,112,264 have received their second dose, and 3,263,981 have received a third dose or booster.

  2. Topical questions on endometriosis and Police Scotland

    Before that we'll have Topical Questions which have been selected for answer on 25 January 2022.

    Lib Dem MSP Beatrice Wishart asks the Scottish government what action it will take in response to reports of the Women’s Health Plan study finding that endometriosis clinical care is failing to meet the base level of care.

    Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks the the Scottish government what its response is to reports that two million calls to Police Scotland have gone unanswered since 2018.

  3. Covid pandemic: UK round-up

    • Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to update Holyrood on Covid rules from around 2.20pm
    • Police to investigate Downing Street parties over potential lockdown breaches, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick confirms
    • UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says it was "clearly unwise" for a birthday gathering to be held in No 10 during the first lockdown
    Boris Johnson aloneUK government
    • Birthday parties should have been delayed in all cases, he adds, but says staff would have "thought they were being kind"
    • The June 2020 gathering with cake - first reported by ITV News - is putting fresh pressure on the PM
    • Downing Street does not dispute it took place but says Boris Johnson was there for less than 10 minutes
    • Meanwhile, travel industry bosses hope demand will soar after changes to Covid testing rules were announced
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  4. Analysis

    When will face masks in classrooms be removed?

    Lucy Whyte
    BBC Scotland education correspondent

    It's a question of when, not if, face coverings will be removed in Scotland's classrooms.

    Masks have been polarising since they were first introduced, with teachers largely happy about the rule and parents and pupils split on how they feel about it .

    Now, for the first time, the balance is tipping in favour of their removal from all involved; certainly while seated in lessons, if not in corridors too.

    The group which issues scientific advice to the government on education settings and Covid has already said that it feels the tide is turning when it comes to the benefits versus the risks of masks in class.

    That group is meeting again today and it could conclude that now is the right time to take the next step.

    The question is then, does the government act quickly, or does it set a date in the future.

    The second option would give schools and families notice and would give more time to see if case rates continue to fall.

  5. What can we expect this afternoon?

    Face MasksReuters

    Speculation is mounting that pupils will be de-masked after the February half-term break.

    Calls for the end of mask-wearing in Scotland's schools are likely to feature on opposition MSPs' agenda and perhaps the FM will address them today.

    Leading infections expert Dr Christine Tait-Burkard has said she believed they could go as early as next month - and the rules on face coverings for the general public may be lifted "relatively soon thereafter".

    Deputy First Minister John Swinney said he would not be drawn on a timetable.

    We can also expect renewed calls for cash support to get to businesses.

    Read more here

  6. Welcome

    Nicola SturgeonGetty Images

    Nicola Sturgeon will get to her feet in Holyrood at around 2.20pm this afternoon.

    Welcome to our live coverage of the first minister's Covid update on Tuesday 25th January 2022.

    Nicola Sturgeon will tell MSPs the latest pandemic news from around Scotland and beyond.

    We will bring you all the latest developments and analysis here, and you can watch the session by clicking on one of the tabs above.