Nicola Sturgeon Covid update RECAP: First Minister confirms move to level 0 | Four deaths and 2,529 cases in 24 hours | Covid pressure on NHS is 'of concern'
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Covid Scotland RECAP: The latest updates on the pandemic on Tuesday, July 13
Key Events
- Scotland will move to level 0 from next week - but with slight modifications, FM says
- ‘Long covid is still a risk to everyone’
- Covid cases remaining high is ‘of concern’ to the Scottish Government
- Four new deaths and 2,529 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours
Weekly Covid deaths at highest level since mid May – ONS
Weekly coronavirus deaths registered in England and Wales are at their highest level since mid-May, figures show.
There were 109 deaths registered in the week ending July 2 where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
No train operators or major bus and coach firms will require masks in England
No domestic train operators or major bus and coach firms will require passengers to wear face coverings on services in England from Monday, according to industry bodies.
Transport companies have the power to turn away customers who refuse to cover their noses and mouths even when the legal requirement is lifted on July 19.
On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “we expect and recommend” that people continue to wear face coverings in “crowded and enclosed spaces … such as on public transport”.
Cross-Channel train firm Eurostar and airlines such as British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair will continue to require passengers to wear face coverings from July 19.
But train industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) announced that all domestic train operators, such as Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Southeastern, will not go that far.
Here's when Nicola Sturgeon is giving her next Covid update to Holyrood today
The First Minister is set to give her next Covid update to Holyrood on Tuesday, announcing whether the country will move to Level 0 on 19 July as planned
Downing Street has said comparisons between countries “can be difficult” when questioned about the Netherland’s decision to reimpose closures on nightclubs.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Making comparisons between countries can be difficult.
“I think where we are in this country, we have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.”
On why people will not be required to wear masks from July 19, Sajid Javid highlighted the “vaccine wall of defence” before telling MPs: “When it comes to masks, they do have an important role to play but we think that role can be played by moving from regulation to guidance.”
Everything you need to know about Level Zero Covid rules in Scotland, explained
It is hoped that Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement today (July 13) will give Scotland the green light to move into Level 0 on July 19, but what does that mean?
These are all the Covid restrictions which could change on 19 July after Nicola Sturgeon's update
The First Minister is set to make an announcement on whether the country will move down to Level 0 on Tuesday - here’s what to expect if the lockdown easing goes ahead
Fifth of workers in Covid self-isolation, industry bosses tell MPs
One in five high street workers are self-isolating due to Government pandemic tracing rules, and the situation could worsen, hospitality and retail bosses have warned MPs.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade group UKHospitality, told MPs on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy committee that firms have forecast that a third of staff could soon be isolating.
She said this comes on top of a wider labour shortage following the impact of lockdown measures and people moving out of the sector to find employment.
Ms Nicholls told the committee on Tuesday: “We have one in five hospitality staff in isolation, and we have particular concerns as around 60% of our staff are under 30.
“The changes to allow double-vaccinated people to avoid isolation won’t kick in in a material way until September because the workforce won’t have been able to have their second jabs until then.
“We believe we need to have a test-to-release policy to help them work.
“For many of our small businesses, if you lose one or two of your workers you don’t have enough people to open at all, and obviously that has huge ramifications.”
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said there was a similar proportion of shop worker absences due to isolation rules.
“We are seeing some vacancy rates of around 20%,” she told MPs.
“And only some of that is directly people with Covid – a lot is the indirect consequence of having to isolate, irrespective of tests or whether one has had two vaccines.
“I think it is an immediate issue that comes with the lifting of restrictions.”
Scotland will move to level 0 on 19 July but with ‘certain modifications’, says FM
This is to ensure that the easing of restrictions of the rules are “sensible” in light of the “challenges” Scotland is facing with case numbers from the Delta variant.
Mandatory wearing of face masks will remain in place “for some time to come” FM added.
“This is not just to give added protection to the population as a whole, but to give reassurance to those among us who are more vulnerable.”
Update on cases:
Four new deaths have been reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours which brings the death toll since the start of the pandemic to 7,761.
2,529 new cases have been detected in the last 24 hours which brings the total to 318,566.
The daily test positivity rate is 11.5%, up from 11.1% the previous day.
506 people are currently being treated in hospital having tested positive for the virus - 37 more than yesterday.
41 people are being treated in an ICU having tested positive for the virus - 1 more than yesterday.
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