Key dates of Covid rule and regulation changes - including masks and testing

Nicola Sturgeon delivered an update on the state of the Covid pandemic in Scotland earlier today. As part of her speech, the First Minister announced that the law on face masks will be removed in phases next month.

The SNP leader also provided MSPs with information on the latest Covid case numbers and hospitalisations. It was also revealed that the BA.2 variant, also known as stealth Omicron, has now peaked or is peaking according to the latest data.

Sturgeon said that there was “cautious optimism”, despite Covid hospital numbers reaching record highs in recent days. Here are some of the key dates on the future of testing and mask wearing over the coming weeks.The legal requirement to wear a face covering inside places of worship and weddings will be lifted The legal requirement for Scots to wear face coverings in the remaining indoor public settings and public transport will be removed and moved to guidance.

People without Covid symptoms will also no longer be asked to take lateral flow tests.But the rapid rests will remain free for situations where testing is advised - including clinical care, health and social workers, and for people visiting vulnerable people in care homes and hospitals.Vaccinated individuals that have been identified as a close contact of someone with Covid should continue to test daily for seven days with lateral flow tests.Scots with symptoms of the virus will still be advised to isolate and get a PCR test from this point until the end of April.All routine population-wide testing is expected to end from this point.Test sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be advised that they need to seek a test.Mobile testing units and lab capacity will be retained for “longer term testing