part may be reproduced without the written permission. 2023 BBC. "The thing I want to stress is the advice the public health advice is that for your safety and the safety of others, and so that as a community we can come out of this together, wear a mask in crowded places - very clear, very simple.". He acknowledged the daily case rate remained high but he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that vaccination and therapeutics had "changed the game". Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The national clinical director was also asked about a video showing Nicola Sturgeon not wearing a face mask during a campaign visit to a barber's in East Kilbride. Public Health Scotland said there were more than 2,000 people in hospital with the virus on Thursday - but very few in intensive care. Testing is being wound down more gradually in Scotland, but the population-wide testing and contact tracing system will shut down by the end of April. This information is based on abstract 5979 at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) annual meeting. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). NHS Western Isles is also reminding patients to attend their appointments on time please do not arrive too early or too late. Scotland's national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch, said coronavirus was now being dealt with through common sense and guidance, rather than law. 2023 BBC. "What I have observed in England is a number of businesses, including supermarkets, that are very strongly advising (the wearing of face masks) and I expect that to continue here.". With the infection rate now falling across the country, the government has confirmed the laws will be lifted. Dr Lewis Morrison, chairman of the British Medical Association Scotland, said the NHS was still struggling to deliver services because of pressure on resources - particularly staff shortages caused by Covid. About one in 17 people in Scotland had the virus in week ending 9 April - down from one in 13 the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics. Masks continue to be a key tool against COVID-19. Although the Province's masking requirement for certain indoor settings has expired, the wearing of face masks will continue . But I don't want to quibble about that. People in Scotland are no longer legally required to wear face coverings in crowded indoor places like shops and restaurants, or on public transport. not seated at your desk). The number of daily reported Covid cases in Scotland hit about 12,000 in March but the figure is now about 5,000. . eat and drink. These can also be used in combination if . Some 2,344 people are in hospital with the virus in Scotland, according to . This is part of a continuous process of reviewing such materials, working with guideline development groups composed of independent, international experts who consider the latest available evidence and the changing epidemiology. It is recognised that it will be impractical for individuals to wear face mask at all times and these will have to be removed for reasons such as eating, drinking, sleeping or showering. Lifting of Scottish face mask laws confirmed - BBC News (primary care, hospital and community healthcare settings). vaccination clinic), individuals' own face coverings [] Guidance sections updated to reflect the Scottish Winter (21/22) Respiratory Infections in Health and Care Settings Addendum publication. . We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing Despite the use of face coverings no longer being a legal requirement, she strongly recommended that people "continue wearing face coverings in indoor settings where possible, and particularly when significant numbers of people are present". Are masks mandatory in Scotland? New rules explained and whether you It is Scotland's final legal Covid-19 requirement to be lifted. Then in phase two, at week 26 (June 2, 2022 to September 10, 2022) the surgical mask-wearing policy was removed for the majority of wards (study group), while a subset of high-risk wards (i.e., renal hematology and oncology wards, the medical admissions unit and intensive care units) retained the mask obligation policy for staff (control group). The Scottish Conservatives had previously criticised the delays in lifting the laws around shops, public transport and other indoor public places. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules, What Europe's royals could teach King Charles. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Adidas sued by investors over Kanye West deal, Suspected IS chief killed in Syria, Turkey says, UK chip giant Arm files for blockbuster share sale, Pope urges Hungarians to 'open doors' to migrants, US bank makes last ditch bid to find rescuer. And vaccinated close contacts of someone with Covid should continue to test daily for seven days with lateral flow devices. Prof Leitch said: "I haven't spoken to the first minister today, I imagine I'll speak to her later. This can be done at home or at a dedicated facility, such as a hospital or clinic. These changes will barely scratch the surface of this deadly crisis and fail to grapple with the major structural problems clinicians are raising. It also means wearing face coverings in school corridors will not be mandatory - but it will be encouraged. It is a statement of the obvious that working with the scale of pressures that are being experienced right now is an incredibly difficult task, she said. The Scottish Conservatives described the briefing as a PR exercise, which was too little, too late. There will also be instances of staff who may suffer from breathing difficulties, or suffer from genuine discomfort or distress when wearing a FRSM. She added: "The SNP government have been far too slow to trust the public to use their judgement on wearing face masks, having twice U-turned on lifting the blanket curb before. This PR exercise was too little, too late. ", "Many hospitals have retained masking at significant financial and environment cost and despite the substantial barrier to communication," says senior author Dr. Aodhan Breathnach from St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London. In recent weeks we have seen steady progress as we move back to a greater sense of normality and a more sustainable way of managing this virus. You can use the filters to show only news posts that match your interest. People without symptoms are no longer required to take the regular tests, but PCR tests will be available to people with symptoms until the end of April. This should be decided on an individual case-by-case basis. not seated at your desk). NHS Scotland has approved the transparent mask for use by both healthcare staff and patients. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. The legal requirement to wear face coverings in many indoor settings in Scotland will end next Monday. Is climate change killing Australian wine? These monoclonal antibody medicines lack or have diminished activity against the current circulating virus variants. I think it's premature. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? is to help protect the many vulnerable individuals using the services. Read about our approach to external linking. The move had been delayed twice amid record levels of Covid cases and high numbers of people in hospital with the virus. What difference will lifting face mask laws make? WHO has updated its guidelines on mask wearing in community settings, COVID-19 treatments, and clinical management. Staff are encouraged to engage in a discussion with patients as early as possible in the admission process to promote the importance of using face masks and adhering to other COVID-19 control measures. April 28, 2023 | 10:26 AM. Covid in Scotland: Decision due on mask requirements Read about our approach to external linking.

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