Masks stay for the moment.

Some covid restrictions were due to change in the coming days, but there has been a marked increase in positive cases across the country. The BA.2 strain of Omicron is dominant in Scotland.

In summary, the First Minister today:
• Confirmed that social distancing measures in shops and other premises will end from Monday along with the requirement for businesses to collect customer details.
• Asked that people continue to wear face coverings on public transport and in certain indoor settings for a further two weeks. In two weeks, that will be reviewed. The mask wearing legislation was due to end on Monday also, but this has been extended to take account of rising case numbers in Scotland.

From 18 April, people will no longer be asked to test twice weekly if they have no symptoms.

Routine asymptomatic testing in education settings – schools, early learning and childcare, and universities – will cease at the end of the current term.

From the end of April, testing for people with symptoms will also end.

A new Test and Protect transition strategy was confirmed, and can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/test-protect-transition-plan/