• Scotland's last remaining Covid regulations - over the wearing of face coverings - will be lifted, but not until 18 April
• Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that until then it remains mandatory to wear face masks on public transport, in shops and in other indoor settings

• However, from next Monday 4 April, it will no longer be a legal requirement to wear a face covering in places of worship or while attending a marriage ceremony, a civil partnership registration, or a funeral

• 9,610 new cases of Covid have been reported
• 34 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive
• 20 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently-confirmed Covid
• 2,344 people were in hospital yesterday with recently-confirmed Covid
• Two members of the Scottish government cabinet - including Deputy First Minister John Swinney - are isolating after testing positive for Covid-19

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says she abided by the Covid rules during a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip in London.

The first minister was pictured during the event without wearing a face covering.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asks Ms Sturgeon why this was the case and she insists she "abided by the rules in place there".

She adds, "I abide by the rules and I know that is something the Conservatives struggle to understand."

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Cole-Hamilton is also concerned about the lack of detail on the removal of access to free lateral flow tests.

He calls on the FM to guarantee that all carers, NHS staff, care home staff and visitors have free access to LFTs.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader explains thousands of people continue to use LFTs and the new cost "is nothing short of a visit your gran tax".

The first minister says her government is still supporting testing in ways currently not the case in the UK.

She says it will continue to "support appropriate and targeted use of testing".

"Where we are advising people to take tests, we will not expect anyone to pay for these tests."

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says protecting the most vulnerable people from Covid remains a key priority.

The first minister says offering additional booster jabs has played an important part in this but so have anti-viral drugs, promising “speedy access for those eligible for them”.

On the Argyll and Bute booster jab issue, Ms Sturgeon says offering appointments so far away had been an error and was being rectified and argues that it should not diminish the wider successes of the vaccination programme.

What happens to people who are immunocompromised, is the focus of Jackie Baillie’s questions.

The Scottish Labour health spokeswoman says the thousands of vulnerable people who were forced to shield during lockdown should be “afforded assurance of what will happen to them” with regards to testing and anti-viral drugs.

Ms Baillie also raises the issue of people in Argyll and Bute being offered booster jab appointments up to 100 miles away from their homes.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says it is "inconsistent" of Mr Ross to express concern about the pressure on the NHS, while bemoaning the "very limited protective measures" that remain in place.

Ms Sturgeon says the government has set out in recent weeks investment in the NHS to help ease the pressure it is under.

Getting Covid case levels down will help the NHS, says Ms Sturgeon, who adds: "It is important that we take a cautious approach through this."

Douglas Ross begins by reminding Ms Sturgeon that this week saw the worst A&E waiting times on record.

The Scottish Conservative leader also highlights cancer treatment waiting times.

Mr Ross asks the government to set out the action the government will take now to address these "failings"

On the issue of Covid, he points out that Scotland has the the highest level of infections in the UK.

"The first minister's strategy is clearly failing," he says.

He criticises the continuation of face mask rules, arguing it should be down to the public's choice.

Mr Ross asks if face masks will be removed completely from schools, while also seeking a guarantee that there will be no further delays.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says phasing out the legal requirements "strikes a sensible balance" between getting rid of restrictions and the need for caution given the latest wave of infections.

The first minister says she recognises "face coverings are an inconvenience" but believes a further two weeks is a "proportionate precautionary measure while we pass the peak of this latest wave".

Ms Sturgeon adds it is important people remember that Covid has not gone away.

A phased approach to getting rid of the legal obligation to wear face masks is to begin, Nicola Sturgeon says.

The first minister says the legal requirement should be replaced with guidance.

This will begin on 4 April when it will no longer be a legal requirement to wear a face covering in places of worship or while attending a wedding or funeral.

Then on 18 April the legal requirement will be dropped from shops, public transport and other indoor settings.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms Scotland's last remaining Covid regulations - over the wearing of face coverings - will be lifted but not until 18 April.

From next Monday 4 April, it will no longer be a legal requirement to wear a face covering in places of worship or while attending a marriage ceremony, a civil partnership registration, or a funeral.

Then the wider legal requirement applying to shops, certain other indoor settings and public transport will be converted to guidance two weeks later on 18 April.

Nicola Sturgeon tells the chamber: "Despite the effectiveness of vaccination, the high level of infection has put the NHS under even more severe strain", not least in A&Es.

• 9,610 new cases of Covid reported
• 34 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive
• 20 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently-confirmed Covid
• 2,344 people were in hospital yesterday with recently-confirmed Covid

The first minister gets to her feet and, as ever, begins with the latest Covid statistics.

Image source, Getty Images

Dr Christine Tait-Burkard, a leading infections expert at University of Edinburgh, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland masks should still be worn in high-risk environments such as public transport and healthcare settings but legal enforcement should be dropped.

She said cases in the wave of the Omicron sub-variant affecting Scotland had dropped off quickly in Germany and the Netherlands, despite them removing legal mask requirements.

"We are getting much less protection especially of the BA.2 subvariant because we need to inhale much fewer virus particles than we used to," Dr Tait-Burkard said.

"The surgical and cotton masks just allow for a little more of the virus to get through. They are still very good for people who are lower risk - they stop them shedding a lot of virus into the environment.

"For people who are more vulnerable, it is probably the moment to increase to an FFP3 mask just until the pressure in the environment from so many people infected actually decreases."

She advised more vulnerable people to "evaluate your personal risk" when going to high risk areas where there are lots of people and little ventilation.

Is the face covering rule prudent or unnecessary?published at 13:47 British Summer Time 30 March 2022

13:47 BST 30 March 2022

Andrew Kerr
Scottish political correspondent

Scotland's cabinet met yesterday to decide if the rules on wearing masks should be lifted.

It's the last remaining legal Covid restriction.

Case numbers are now starting to dip - although the number of Covid patients in hospital has reached a record high.

The legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport and indoor settings should have been lifted on the 21st of March.

However, Nicola Sturgeon said it would be "prudent" to retain it for longer, given the spike in cases.

The Scottish Conservatives have criticised what they called a "wait-and-see approach".

The cabinet will have decided whether to dispense with the final Covid restrictions in Scotland on Monday 4 April.

Given that cases are falling, it might be surprising if the mask mandate is in place for longer.

The decision is being announced in parliament today rather than yesterday - as the First Minister was in London for the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service.

Image source, PA MEDIA

Three weeks ago, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that Scotland's rules on face coverings would remain in place until April, due to a rise in Covid cases.

All other restrictions on businesses and services moved from legal requirement to guidance on 21 March.

The rules on masks were reviewed again on 29 March, and are expected to be converted to guidance by 4 April.

At the moment, masks must be worn, external in most indoor public spaces including public transport, shops and gyms (although they can be temporarily removed when exercising).

They are mandatory in pubs and restaurants when not seated or dancing, as well as in the workplace in communal areas and canteens.

They no longer have to be worn by secondary school students in the classroom - but are still required in "indoor communal areas" like corridors.

Under-12s are exempt.

• What are the Covid rules in Scotland
• What are the rules elsewhere?

Image source, Getty Images

Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Scotland's live coverage of the first minister's coronavirus update.

Nicola Sturgeon is expected to reveal if the face mask rules will be lifted.

The first minister will update MSPs on whether the requirement to wear masks in shops and on public transport will end as planned on 4 April.

All of Scotland's other Covid-19 rules have now been converted into guidance.

But ministers decided to keep the rule on face coverings for an extra few weeks due to a spike in new cases.

Read more here