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Nicola Sturgeon’s lockdown statement RECAP: First Minister eases restrictions on outdoor meetings and places of worship
Last updated: Tuesday, 09 March, 2021, 14:48
- Nicola Sturgeon set to ease restrictions on outdoor meet-ups
- 501 new Covid cases and one further death on Monday
- Police condemn ‘lack of support’ from Rangers over mass fan gatherings
Spain pursuing Covid vaccine passport scheme to allow return of tourists - what we know so far
Spain pursuing Covid vaccine passport scheme to allow return of tourists - what we know so far
Holidays to Spain could soon be open to tourists again following the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine passport pilot scheme.
Sir Patrick Vallance: worldwide progress in vaccinating key to unlocking international travel
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance suggested worldwide progress in vaccinating against Covid-19 was the key to unlocking international travel.
He told MPs on the Science and Technology Committee “inevitably at some point travel will reopen” and “as more countries become vaccinated and as we get the ability to understand how much transmission is reduced by vaccination it makes freer movement across countries much more possible again”.
That might involve “certification or whatever” but travel has to reopen in a safe way, possibly with a global screening programme to help detect variants.
He said the issue underlined the point that it was an international effort to vaccinate people “not a national thing” and “therefore vaccines need to get out to other countries as well”.
May 17 has been pencilled in as the earliest date for the resumption of international travel.
Committee member Carol Monaghan pointed out that “other countries are way behind us in terms of vaccination” so questioned whether May 17 was a “sensible date”.
Sir Patrick said: “We are going to have to measure as we go along and we don’t know.”
Scotland lockdown: the Covid rules that will change next as Nicola Sturgeon gives update on roadmap today
These are the coronavirus restrictions that will be eased next in Scotland
Restrictions on outdoor socialising are expected to ease next
Chancellor Rishi Sunak defended the Government’s handling of the pandemic, telling MPs “at all steps in this crisis we have indeed taken the advice of our scientific advisers”.
Chief Constable asks expert to probe policing of Rangers fans’ gatherings
Scotland’s top police officer has asked an expert to scrutinise the force’s handling of the unlawful celebrations in Glasgow at the weekend.
Rangers fans congregated in George Square and outside Ibrox Stadium after their side took their first top-flight title in 10 years.
Police made 28 arrests and seven people were issued with fixed penalty notices or will be reported to the procurator fiscal.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has now asked John Scott QC to consider the events at the next scheduled Independent Advisory Group (IAG) meeting on Friday.
FM comments on the gathering of Rangers football fans over the weekend
FM: ‘I share the anger and despair that the vast majority of people including I am sure the majority of football fans at crowds flagrantly ignoring covid rules.”
‘It was disgraceful and selfish.’
FM said she’s aware many people are angry with the police and the government following the celebrations, but it was those who breached the rules who are at fault.