Scotland to end vaccine passport scheme and lift restrictions

Scotland’s mandatory vaccine passport scheme is to be scrapped from 28 February, with other restrictions due to be lifted next month.

The legal requirement to wear a face covering in settings including pubs and restaurants and for hospitality venues to record customer details through track and trace is expected to end on 21 March.

People who test positive for Covid-19 will still be asked to self-isolate, and lateral flow and PCR tests will continue to be free of charge.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland was moving away from legal restrictions to rely on “sensible behaviours” to combat the virus.

UKHospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson said ending the Covid pass scheme was welcome. but it was disappointing that rules on face coverings and contract tracing would remain for another month.

Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: “We are also way behind the rest of the UK in the process [of lifting restrictions] and that throws out confusing messaging to visitors to Scotland from south of the Border – visitors who will support our hospitality businesses.”

All coronavirus restrictions are to be lifted in England on 24 March. Northern Ireland replaced legal restrictions with guidance last week.

The Welsh government has said it could scrap its remaining restrictions at the end of March, with a review of the laws due at the end of next week.

Image: Weho/Shutterstock