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Please note: This blog will no longer be updated from 1 April 2022.

The post contains links to trusted and official external sources of information (at April 2022) relating to issues that constituents may be needing advice on.

Please see our COVID-19 hub for a full list of subject specific SPICe blogs

Blog layout

The blog includes an introductory section on ‘where are we now?’, followed by sources broken down into broad subjects, each section split into ‘guidance’ and ‘funding and support’:

Where are we now?
Key Sources
Business & Industry (including business support, employment, retail and utilities)
Education (including childcare)
Health & Social Care
Housing & Planning
Justice
Parliament & Government
People & Communities (including charities, third sector and volunteering)
Rural Affairs
Social Security
Transport, Travel & Tourism

SPICe will also keep our other publications in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19) under review. Please sign-up to Spotlight and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date.

Where are we at April 2022?

The Scottish Government published an update to Scotland’s Strategic Framework on 16 November 2021.

New guidance was introduced on 14 December 2021 following the spread of the new Omicron strain of COVID-19. People were encouraged to reduce social interaction at home or in indoor public places to a maximum of three households at any time, and to take a lateral flow test before meeting. From 17 December 2021, businesses are legally required to take reasonable measures to minimise transmission of COVID-19. Additional restrictions were introduced on 27 December 2021, including one metre physical distancing in indoor hospitality and leisure settings, attendance limits at events and the closure of nightclubs. These restrictions were lifted on Monday 24 January. Non-professional indoor contact sports has now resumed and the guidance asking people to stick to a 3 household limit on indoor gatherings has also been removed.

General guidance on staying safe is available on the Scottish Government website.

Key Sources

NEW! Scottish Government – Legal requirements to wear face coverings on public transport and most indoor public settings will end on 18 April. Requirements for face coverings at weddings, funerals and places of worship will end on 4 April. (30 March 2022)
NEW! Scottish Government – changes to Test and Protect and to the availability of lateral flow devices from 18 April. PCR tests for people with COVID-19 symptoms will be available until 30 April. (30 March 2022)
Scottish Government – legal requirements to wear face coverings on public transport and most indoor public settings will continue until at least early April. The remaining legal requirements for businesses and service providers will end on Monday 21 March. (15 March 2022)
Scottish Government – people without COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests from 18 April. From this date, free lateral flow devices (LFDs) will no longer be available except for any purpose for which testing continues to be advised. People with symptoms should continue to isolate and get a PCR test until the end of April. (15 March 2022)
Scottish Government – all international travel restrictions for people coming to Scotland are to end from 4am on Friday 18 March. (14 March 2022)
Scottish Government – spring booster jabs will be offered to those aged 75 and over and people at highest risk of severe COVID-19 disease from Monday 7 March (6 March 2022)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces vaccine certification will no longer be legally required from Monday 28 February. Current legal requirements on the use of face coverings and the collection of customer details for contact tracing purposes are expected to be lifted on 21 March. (22 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Scotland’s updated Strategic Framework published. (22 February 2022)
Scottish Government – second booster jabs will be offered to those aged 75 and over, residents in care homes and immunosuppressed individuals aged 12and over. The people will be invited as they become eligible from at least 24 weeks after their last booster. (21 February 2022)
UK Government – JCVI updates advice on vaccinations for 5 to 11 age group. The committee recommends a non-urgent offer to all 5 to 11 year olds of 2 (10mcg) doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech paediatric vaccine. The 2 doses should be given with an interval of at least 12 weeks between doses. (16 February 2022)
Scottish Government – high school pupils and staff will not be required to wear face coverings in classrooms from 28 February 2022. Mitigations relating to assemblies and transition visits for learners who will start primary or secondary in August 2022 will also be eased. (10 February 2022)
Scottish Government – extension of the expiry date for statutory coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions and requirements to 24 September 2022. The restrictions will remain subject to review every three weeks. (9 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Six month extension to some temporary provisions made under UK legislation. (3 February 2022)
UK Government – Novavax COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid approved by MHRA. (3 February 2022)
UK Government – The UK’s second ground-breaking antiviral (PF-07321332+ritonavir) will be made available to those with weakened immune systems from Thursday 10 February. (28 January 2022)
Scottish Government – from Monday 31 January businesses can resume hybrid working arrangements. (25 January 2022)
Scottish Government – fully vaccinated arrivals into Scotland will no longer be required to possess a negative test result from 4am on 11 February. Non-vaccinated arrivals will still be required to take pre-departure tests and a PCR test on or before day two – but the requirement for isolation will end – and they will no longer have to take a day eight test. (24 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce children aged five to 11 years old with specific medical conditions will start receiving invitations for their first Covid-19 vaccination. (18 January 2022)
Scottish Government – large outdoor events can resume without physical distancing or capacity limits from 00:01 on Monday 17 January (11 January 2022)
Scottish Government – from 6 January, people travelling to Scotland from abroad who are fully vaccinated or under the age of 18 will no longer need to take pre-departure Covid tests, and will also no longer be required to self-isolate on arrival until they’ve received a negative result. (6 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce changes to self-isolation and testing. From 6 January, new cases can end self-isolation if they don’t have a fever and test negative on a LFD on Day 6 and again at least 24 hours later. Anyone who tests positive on a LFD will no longer be asked to take a PCR test to confirm the result. (5 January 2022)
Scottish Government – December update of the autumn/winter vaccination strategy 2021, which includes a progress report and accelerated delivery plans in response to the Omicron Variant. (17 December 2021)
UK Government announce the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE has been appointed as Chair of the forthcoming UK-wide public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. (15 December 2021)
Scottish Government announce the chair and terms of reference for the public inquiry into the handling of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland. The Hon. Lady Poole QC, Senator of the College of Justice of Scotland, will chair the inquiry. (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government – First cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant are identified in Scotland. (29 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Covid Recovery Strategy: for a fairer future (5 October 2021)
Scottish Government – The Scottish Government’s vaccine certification scheme comes into effect from 1 October. The NHS Scotland Covid Status App is available for download from NHS Inform. (1 October 2021)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces Scotland to move beyond level 0 on 9 August, when the legal requirement for physical distancing and limits on gatherings will be removed. Some protective measures will stay in place such as the use of face coverings indoors and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. (03 August 2021)
Scottish Parliament – daily list of COVID-19 related parliamentary questions and answers. Parliamentary questions can be asked by an MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to obtain factual and statistical information.
gov.uk – Key pieces of coronavirus legislation (regularly updated)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) – l atest data and analysis on Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK and its effect on the economy and society (regularly updated)
Public Health Scotland – COVID-19 statistics (updated daily)

Business & Industry (including business support, employment, retail, consumer rights, and utilities )

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government – legal requirements to wear face coverings on public transport and most indoor public settings will continue until at least early April. The remaining legal requirements for businesses and service providers will end on Monday 21 March. (15 March 2022)
Scottish Government – from Monday 31 January businesses can resume hybrid working arrangements. (25 January 2022)
Scottish Government – guidance on safer businesses and workplaces (updated). (23 December 2021)
Scottish Government – compliance self-assessment tool to help businesses assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 control measures within the workplace. (23 December 2021)
Scottish Government – guidance on physical distancing and capacity limits in relevant premises and events. (23 December 2021)
Scottish Government – guidance for call centres and customer contact centre environments. (20 December 2021)
Scottish Government publish new guidance for businesses. From Friday 17 December 2021, businesses will be legally required to take reasonable measures to minimise transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). (16 December 2021)
Scottish Government – from Monday 6 December, the domestic Covid certification scheme includes provision for a negative test for Covid-19, as an alternative to proof of vaccination. (6 December 2021)
Competition and Markets Authority – concerns raised and changes made to the terms and conditions for PCR tests issued by Randox (one of the UK’s largest test providers). (3 December 2021)
Scottish Government – from 6 December, people attending venues covered by Scotland’s COVID certification scheme are to be given the option of providing a recent negative lateral flow test for the virus, as an alternative to proof of vaccination. (23 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Update to vaccine certification Apps. Businesses should now update the customer COVID Check (verifier) App to ensure the QR code shows a green tick when scanned. Customers seeking to access venues affected should download the updated NHS Covid Status app. (19 October 2021)
Scottish Government – The Coronavirus vaccine certification scheme becomes subject to enforcement. People attending a range of late night venues and larger indoor and outdoor live events, such as music festivals or large sporting events, will be required to show staff proof they are fully vaccinated or are otherwise exempt. (18 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Vaccine certification scheme: guidance for customers. (30 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Vaccine certification scheme: guidance for businesses and event organisers (28 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Vaccine certification to come into effect on 1 October. However, legal enforcement of the scheme will not come into effect until Monday 18 October. (28 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Organisations with ten or more employees can now sign up to a voluntary asymptomatic workplace testing programme. The workplace testing offer will initially run until the end of September 2021, in line with the universal testing offer. (11 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Changes to self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID-19 cases – essential staff in critical roles will be allowed to return to work to maintain lifeline services and critical national infrastructure. (23 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Guidance on returning to offices (2 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Launch of Check in Scotland, a new digital service to support businesses in collecting contact details for contact tracing purposes (26 April 2021)
Scottish Government – Guidance for calculating physical distancing capacity in public settings (26 April 2021)
Scottish Government – Workplace testing expanded to high-risk workplaces. Food production and processing businesses are being urged to sign up for routine staff testing to help identify cases of COVID-19. (5 March 2021)
HMRC – Self Assessment customers who cannot file their tax return by the 31 January 2021 deadline will not receive a late filing penalty if they file online by 28 February. (25 January 2021)
Scottish Government – changes to the definition of essential retailers, with homeware stores and garden centres now being classed as non-essential. (22 December 2020)
Scottish Government – recovery plan for the manufacturing sector, focussing on four priority areas: collaboration and networks, supply chains and competitiveness, adaptation and transformation, and skills and workforce. (4 December 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for call centres and customer contact centre environments (26 November 2020)
Scottish Government – Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment on Scotland’s Strategic Framework: Business Closures. (12 November 2020)
Scottish Government – Guidance for the retail sector, including close contact services such as hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons. (9 November 2020)
Scottish Government – Mandatory wearing of face coverings in workplace canteens from 16 October, and in corridors and social spaces from 19 October (15 October 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for retail, tourism and hospitality customers. (9 October 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance on creating and maintaining safer workplaces. (31 August 2020)
Competition and Markets Authority – further detail on its views on the law in relation to cancellations and refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic (28 August 2020)
Scottish Government – manufacturing sector guidance (20 August 2020)
Scottish Government – general guidance for safer workplaces (17 August 2020)
Scottish Government, STUC, SCVO, COSLA, IoD and SCDI – revised fair work statement, underlining the collaborative approach needed between employers, unions and workers to ensure workplaces can operate safely during COVID-19 (19 July 2020)
Scottish Government – construction sector guidance (15 July 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for small and micro businesses (13 July 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance on alcohol and civic licensing. (7 April 2020)
UK Government – Guidance for Employees(updated regularly)
UK Government – Guidance for Employers and businesses(updated regularly)
Money Advice Service – provides free and impartial advice on Coronavirus and looks at rights to sick pay, what benefits you can claim if you’re self-employed or not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) (updated regularly)

Funding and Support

Scottish Government – new £80 million Covid Economic Recovery Fund targeting support for businesses and communities. (21 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Business support funds
Scottish Government – £9 million financial package for the tourism industry to mitigate impacts of Omicron, including support for coach and tour operators, hostels, outdoor/marine businesses and visitor attractions. (12 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce the breakdown of £107 million support package for businesses impacted by the spread of the Omicron variant. (29 December 2021)
Scottish Government – December and January Business Support Top Up – Hospitality – information for businesses. (21 December 2021)
Scottish Government announce the breakdown of a £100 million financial package to support businesses experiencing cancellations due to the spread of the new Omicron variant. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus (COVID-19): Business Ventilation Fund (guidance on who is eligible, what can be claimed and how to apply) (17 November 2021)
Scottish Government – £25m funding package for businesses to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. (28 September 2021)
Scottish Government – funding announced for fishing businesses and marine organisations, to help the sector recover from effects of COVID-19. (1 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Pig Producers Hardship Support Scheme opens. (30 August 2021)
Scottish Government – £14 million North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund. The funding will provide opportunities for more than 3,000 individuals in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire through training and enterprise projects across a number of sectors, including entrepreneurship, tourism and energy transition. (25 August 2021)
Scottish Government – £70 million investment in the Young Person’s Guarantee scheme. (28 July 2021)
Scottish Government – £20 million for the second phase of the National Transition Training Fund (16 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £12 million of funding for businesses in Level 2 areas – including those in the hospitality, events, weddings and soft play sectors, additional funding for taxi drivers and operators and £25 million to support the culture sector (2 June 2021)
Scottish Government– Local Restrictions Grant: guidance for local councils (18 May 2021)
Scottish Government – Local Restrictions Grant: information for businesses (17 May 2021)
Scottish Government – £30 million Third Sector Growth Fund announced for small businesses. (21 March 2021)
UK Government – Furlough scheme and Universal Credit uplift will be extended until the end of September. (3 March 2021)
Scottish Government – The Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund reopens for applications. (24 February 2021)
Scottish Government – Non-domestic rates relief extended for the 2021-22 period. (16 February 2021)
Scottish Government – additional £17.5 million of emergency coronavirus (COVID-19) funding allocated to support creative freelancers and the events sector. (11 February 2021)
Scottish Government – £7.75 million funding package for the seafood sector (3 February 2021)
Scottish Government – £7.3 million in funding for travel agents, brewers and indoor football centres. Grant values of £10,000 or £25,000 for eligible businesses, with a higher payment of £30,000 available to the largest brewers. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses from 27 January. (27 January 2021)
Scottish Government – £25 million fund to support the wedding sector and its supply chain, launched on 28 January. The fund will provide one-off grants of up to £25,000 for eligible businesses in the sector impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including wedding venues, photographers, caterers and suppliers. (25 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Funding to help vulnerable young people across Scotland into work (16 January 2021)
Scottish Government – top-up, one off grants for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses across Scotland closed by level 4 restrictions. These grants are in addition to payments from the Strategic Framework Business Fund. (11 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Strategic Framework Business Fund (31 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Additional £48 million funding for level 4 changes (27 December 2020)
Scottish Government – £104.3 million package of support for the tourism and hospitality sector in the new year (21 December 2020)
UK Government – The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30 April 2021 (17 December 2020)
UK Government – The Bounce Back Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme have been extended until 31 March 2021 (17 December 2020)
Scottish Government – £185 million package of coronavirus (COVID-19) support for businesses, including specific support for close contact services, taxi drivers, travel agents, coach and tour operators, visitor attractions and the wedding sector. (9 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Scottish Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience Fund to help wholesale food and drink businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Applications must be submitted by 23:59 on Sunday 13 December 2020.(5 December 2020)
Scottish Government – £15 million Apprenticeship Employer Grant to provide funding for employers taking or upskilling an apprentice. (1 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Pathway Apprenticeships – part of the Youth Guarantee – to offer 26 weeks of training with a £100 weekly allowance. (1 December 2020)
Scottish Government – £11.8 million in funding towards helping businesses to adopt digital technologies and improve their digital capability. (30 November 2020)
Scottish Government – the second phase of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund is open to applications from 16 November 2020. The fund helps businesses invest in their workforce and is available for all of Scotland’s employers who are subject to the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. (13 November 2020)
UK Government – extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until the end of March 2021, and an increase in value of Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grants. (5 November 2020)
Scottish Government – Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Contingency Fund – nightclubs and soft play centres that have been closed by law since March will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £50,000. (27 October 2020)
Scottish Government – new system of grants for businesses as part of the strategic framework. Based on rateable values, awards will be for either £2,000 or £3,000 for businesses required to close (23 October 2020)
UK Government – increased financial support through the Job Support and self-employed schemes (22 October 2020)
Scottish Government – the National Transition Training Fund is open to anyone aged 25 or over who is unemployed, economically inactive or at risk of unemployment due to the impact of Covid-19. (8 October 2020)
Scottish Government – the £10m Clyde Mission Fund, provides capital funding available for projects in the Clyde Mission area that support economic and infrastructure developments, and improvements to buildings, facilities and the environment (27 September. 2020)
UK Government – the Winter Economy Plan outlines additional government support to businesses and workers across the UK, including a 15% VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sectors, and help for businesses in repaying government-backed loans. (25 September 2020)
Scottish Government – Fair Start Scotland extended to March 2023 as part of a package of support designed to help young people get into work. (16 July 2020)
Find Business Support (FBS) – a one-stop-shop for business advice relating to COVID-19
Business Gateway – provides regularly updated help for business owners and their to employees find information on how to deal with concerns about Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the workplace
Federation of Small Businesses – for regularly updated advice for small businesses
Scottish Government COVID-19 Strategic Framework Business Support Funding Statistics:18 Dec 2020
Scottish Government Strategic Framework: business support funding statistics
Scottish Government COVID-19 Business Support Funding Statistics (circuit breaker):18 Dec 2020
Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support fund grant statistics (updated regularly)

Culture & Sport

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government – large outdoor events can resume without physical distancing or capacity limits from 00:01 on Monday 17 January (11 January 2022)
Scottish Government – guidance on the reopening of cultural performances and events. (18 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Guidance on marches and parades (17 May 2021)
Scottish Government – Stadia and live events guidance (14 May 2021)
Scottish Government – Guidance on angling (23 April 2021)
Scottish Government – guidance for cinemas and drive-in cinemas (3 December 2020)
Scottish Government – events sector guidance (3 December 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for the performing arts and venues sector (10 November 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for the opening of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities. (30 October 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance on film and TV production (updated regularly)
Scottish Government – guidance on sport and leisure facilities. (30 October 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for museums, galleries and heritage attractions (6 July 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for creative studios and shared workspaces. (30 June 2020)
SportScotland – latest sport and physical activity guidance, including guidance on what constitutes contact and non-contact sports (updated regularly)
Sporting Life – list of returning sports across the world, including football, rugby, darts, cricket, tennis and golf (updated regularly)

Funding and Support

Scottish Government – £16 million funding to help cultural organisations, events, museums and freelancers recover from the economic impact of coronavirus restrictions. (18 February 2022)
Scottish Government – recipients of the £2m Festivals Expo Fund announced. (8 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Professional sports (football, rugby, ice hockey, basketball and horse racing) affected by the recent COVID-19 crowd limits allocated £2.55 million in financial support. (13 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce details a financial package worth £65 million for culture and major events. (3 January 2022)
Scottish Government – £21 million support package to support cultural and events organisations. Creative freelancers can apply for between £500 and £2,000 from the cancellation fund which opens at 2pm on Thursday, 6 January 2022. (22 December 2021)
Scottish Government – £430,000 funding for Scotland’s winter festivals (St Andrew’s Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night). (25 November 2021)
Scottish Government – additional £450,000 for the Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund. (8 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Public Libraries COVID Recovery Fund. The £1.25 million fund will help libraries to re-open. (10 September 2021)
Scottish Government launch £750,000 touring fund for live music. (23 August 2021)
Scottish Government – £1 million funding to support the return of live events at the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe (29 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £4.1 million funding for Covid Community Memorial projects, administered by Greenspace Scotland. (23 March 2021)
Scottish Government – additional £17.5 million of emergency coronavirus (COVID-19) funding allocated to support creative freelancers and the events sector. (11 February 2021)
Scottish Government – applications open for the Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare Fund, with up to £2.5 million available to support animal care and key conservation work. (6 Feb 2021)
Scottish Government – £3 million additional funding for Aberdeen Performing Arts, Eden Court Highlands and Capital Theatres (17 January 2021)
Scottish Government – additional £7.1 million in funding for grassroots music venues and independent museums. (20 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Emergency grants worth £11.35 million to support football clubs below Premiership level. The grants will be administered by the Scottish FA. (19 December 2020)
Creative Scotland – Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance
Scottish Government – £55 million emergency sports funding package to tackle lost ticket revenue during the pandemic. (10 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Scottish Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare Fund (10 September 2020)
Scottish Government – emergency funding for the culture and heritage sectors (28 August 2020)
Scottish Government – support package for the National Trust for Scotland (16 August 2020)
Scottish Government – £10 million funding package to support the recovery of the events sector from COVID-19. (26 July 2020)
Scottish Government – £4 million Museums Resilience and Recovery Fund administered by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS). (25 July 2020)
UK Government – £1.57 billion investment for cultural, arts and heritage institutions(5 July 2020)
Scottish Government – £10 million fund to support Scotland’s performing arts venues(3 July 2020)
Scottish Government – funding package agreed for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society (12 June 2020)
Creative Scotland – A-Z of funding and resources for the creative sector, including guidance on applying for all open funds. (regularly updated)

Education (including childcare)

Early learning and Childcare

Scottish Government – Children’s rights and wellbeing assessment (CRWIA) providing an update on the evidence of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and the wider pandemic on babies, children and young people. (8 February 2022)
Scottish Government publish updated guidance to reduce the risks of Covid-19 in schools, ELC services, school age childcare services and childminder services. Safety mitigations that were already in place must continue to be strictly followed and some measures that were previously relaxed are being reintroduced. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus (COVID-19) education recovery: key actions and next steps (5 October 2021)
Scottish Government – children in early learning and childcare (ELC) and primaries 1 to 3 to return full-time to classrooms from Monday 22 February. (16 February 2021)
Scottish Government – Childcare provision guidance for January 2021 (7 January 2021)
Scottish Government announce the expansion of funded early learning and childcare from August 2021. The expansion was originally intended for August 2020 but was paused in April to give local authorities the flexibility to focus on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. (14 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Nursery rate relief to be extended until 2023. (4 December 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance on early learning and childcare (ELC) services. (30 October 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance on organised activities for children, including parent and toddler groups (updated regularly)
Scottish Government – nationwide survey for education staff in schools or early learning centres to help identify the proportion of people working in an education setting who have had COVID-19. (2 October 2020)
Scottish Government – Guidance for residential children’s houses, residential schools, secure care, and residential respite/short break facilities on staffing, social distancing and self-isolation. (2 October 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for childminder services. (1 June 2020)

Schools

Scottish Government – updated guidance for the use of face coverings in schools published. Mitigations relating to assemblies and transition visits for learners who will start primary or secondary in August 2022 are eased from 28 February. (28 February 2022)
Scottish Government – high school pupils and staff will not be required to wear face coverings in classrooms from 28 February 2022. Mitigations relating to assemblies and transition visits for learners who will start primary or secondary in August 2022 will also be eased. (10 February 2022)
Scottish Government confirms its ‘firm intention’ to hold National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams in Spring. (1 February 2022)
Scottish Government advise all secondary pupils to take at-home COVID-19 tests before they return to school to limit the spread of Omicron. (3 January 2022)
Scottish Government publish updated guidance to reduce the risks of Covid-19 in schools, ELC services, school age childcare services and childminder services. Safety mitigations that were already in place must continue to be strictly followed and some measures that were previously relaxed are being reintroduced. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government publish Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Level statistics. The statistics show reductions in the proportions of primary school pupils achieving the expected CfR levels in literacy and numeracy over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period, between 2018/19 and 2020/21. (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government – School mitigations will remain in place. Pupils will continue to be required to wear face coverings in secondary school classrooms as they begin to return from the October break. (19 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus (COVID-19) education recovery: key actions and next steps (5 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Letter from the Chief Medical Officer Directorate to directors of education and secondary school headteachers on vaccination of children and young people. (28 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Education Scotland and the SQA to be reformed as part of Scotland’s education recovery plans (3 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Nearly all pupils will return to full-time school after the Easter holidays, with children on the shielding list advised to stay at home until 26 April. (6 April 2021)
Scottish Government – Phase 2 of schools return. All remaining primary school children are set to return to school full-time from 15 March, with all secondary pupils returning on a part-time basis from that date. (2 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Children in early learning and childcare and in primaries 1-3 are scheduled to make a full return to nurseries and schools from 22 February. (2 February 2021)
Scottish Government – Coaching and mentoring support for teachers who are new in post, or working in pastoral or child protection roles (31 January 2020)
Scottish Government – Non-statutory guidance for local authorities and schools to support children and young people with complex additional support needs (29 January 2021)
Scottish Government – school re-opening arrangements for January 2021 (21 January 2021)

Scottish Government – guidance for teachers and families to support remote learning in schools published. (8 January 2021)
Scottish Government – updated guidance on arrangements for the phased reopening of schools in January 2021 (21 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Higher and Advanced Higher exams will not go ahead and will be replaced with awards based on teacher judgement of evidence of pupils’ attainment. (8 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Christmas and New Year school holiday dates are to remain as planned. (3 December 2020)
Scottish Government – evidence paper on COVID-19 transmission, risks and absences in schools. (18 November 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance on reducing the risks in schools. (30 October 2020)
Scottish Government – plans for Higher and Advanced Higher exams to go ahead in 2021, while National 5 exams will be replaced by a system where grades are awarded based on coursework and teacher judgement. (7 October 2020)
Scottish Government – nationwide survey for education staff in schools or early learning centres to help identify the proportion of people working in an education setting who have had COVID-19. (2 October 2020)
Scottish Government – Guidance for residential children’s houses, residential schools, secure care, and residential respite/short break facilities on staffing, social distancing and self-isolation. (2 October 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance on preparing for the start of the new school term in August 2020 – version 2 (25 August 2020)
Scottish Government – advice for local authorities and schools on Gaelic medium issues to incorporate into their education recovery planning (24 June 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for local authorities and education appeal committees on temporary arrangements for placing requests and appeal hearings due to COVID-19(8 June 2020)
Scottish Government – Guidance for teachers and other professional practitioners in preparing their curriculum offer for and during the Recovery Phase. (5 June 2020)
Scottish Government – Guidance to help support continuity in children and young people’s learning in Term 4, following the closure of schools in March 2020. (20 April 2020)

Higher and Further Education

Scottish Government – Letter from the Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training on measures to reduce transmission of Omicron variant in the college and university sectors. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills setting out principles for in-person teaching in college and university for the remainder of the current term and for term two. (15 November 2021)
Scottish Government – operational guidance for universities, colleges and community learning and development providers for the 2021-22 academic year. (15 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Advisory Sub-Group on Universities and Colleges – advice note (30 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Expansion of the national vaccination programme to include international students (11 June 2021)
Scottish Government – rules relaxed for international students to allow them access financial support from their college or university. (17 February 2021)
Scottish Government – university students will be taught online throughout January and February, with the vast majority not expected back on campuses until the start of March. (8 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Interim report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fair access to higher education (30 December 2020)
Scottish Government – staggered return to campus for university students over at least six weeks, along with a package of additional measures to help reduce transmission of COVID-19. (8 December 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for students travelling home at the end of term.Students will be able to take voluntary coronavirus tests through their college or university from Monday 30 November. (25 November 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for students living away from home explaining how restrictions on social gatherings apply, as well as plans for the end of term 2020. (25 November 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for universities, colleges and student accommodation providers(11 September 2020)
Scottish Government – guidance for the community learning and development sector (31 July 2020)

Funding announcements

Scottish Government – £2 million to support outdoor education centres. (3 February 2022)
Scottish Government – temporary COVID recovery funding of £80 million for teacher recruitment is to be made permanent. From April 2022, the sum will be allocated annually to the local government settlement. (18 August 2021)
Scottish Government – £20 million of additional funding for students impacted by COVID-19 (13 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £15 million in funding to councils and £5m allocated to a coalition of 18 national partners to support children and young people’s wellbeing over the Summer (10 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Financial support for dental students who have not been able to gain sufficient clinical experience of aerosol generating procedures to allow them to graduate this year. (12 February 2021)
Scottish Government – £20 million in funding for students experiencing hardship as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). A further £10 million has also been allocated to universities and colleges for income lost in providing rent rebates. In addition, the Scottish funding Council is repurposing £5 million of student support funding towards discretionary funding for FE students in the college sector. (26 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Funding of £1 million for childminders who have been financially impacted by the pandemic (21 January 2021)
Scottish Government – support to childcare sector (updated regularly)
Scottish Government – package of funding worth £45m for local authorities to provide help for schools and private and third sector day care of children settings. (13 January 2021)
Scottish Government – new £1 million children’s winter clothing fund for Nurseries and other Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings. (22 December 2020)
Scottish Government – An additional £5 million is being made available to students (through the Discretionary Fund) who are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19. (23 December 2020)
Scottish Government – £750,000 for student associations to assist with welfare advice on campuses. (11 December 2020)
Scottish Government – additional £1.32m funding for mental health support for students. (6 November 2020)
Scottish Government – £15 million funding package to respond to children and young people’s mental health issues, with a focus on those brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. (2 November 2020)
Scottish Government – £2 million support package for residential outdoor education centres. (22 October 2020)
Universities Scotland – package of ten measures designed to support student wellbeing.(30 September 2020)
Scottish Government – mental health support for school staff as part of a £1.5 million funding package. (13 September 2020)
UK Government – investment in Covid research at St Andrews University(11 September 2020)
UK Government – investment of £8.4 million in COVID-19 immunology research projects across the UK, including the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.(28 August 2020)
Scottish Government – ring-fenced funding of £50 million to recruit approximately 850 extra teachers and 200 additional support staff to assist in the reopening of schools. (23 July 2020)
Scottish Government – £27.6m for the extension of free school meals over the summer. (16 June 2020)
Scottish Government – £11.4m of discretionary funds to support higher education students in financial difficulty. (11 June 2020)
Scottish Government – £159,000 given to Living Classrooms to expand their Virtual Nature School programme. (29 May 2020)
Scottish Government – £75 million increase in funding for Scotland’s universities to protect their research programmes. (6 May 2020)
Scottish Government – £250 million of funding to close the poverty-related attainment gap and aid learning during the pandemic. (1 May 2020)
Scottish Government – £5m package of emergency hardship payments for students (8 April 2020)

Environment & Energy

News and guidance

Scottish Government – guidance for the onshore wind industry (31 October 2020)
Scottish Government – £62 million Energy Transition Fund announced to help the energy sector recover from the dual economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the oil and gas price crash. (12 June 2020)
Energy Saving Trust – advice for home heating and energy use by people staying home to work or to avoid picking up COVID-19. (17 March 2020)

Health & Social Care

Information and Guidance for patients

UK Government – the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approve the use of Evusheld (tixagevimab/cilgavimab) for use on adults who are unlikely to mount an immune response from COVID-19 vaccination or for whom vaccination is not recommended. (17 March 2022)
Scottish Government – people without COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests from 18 April. On this date, free lateral flow devices (LFDs) will no longer be available except for any purpose for which testing continues to be advised. People with symptoms should continue to isolate and get a PCR test until the end of April. (15 March 2022)
Scottish Government – Test & Protect transition plan published. (15 March 2022)
Scottish Government – patients with COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to contact their GP instead of NHS 24 from the end of March. (8 March 2022)
Scottish Government – spring booster jabs will be offered to those aged 75 and over and people at highest risk of severe COVID-19 disease from Monday 7 March (6 March 2022)
Scottish Government – women who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be able to resume NHS fertility treatment, following an updated review (5 March 2022)
Scottish Government – children aged 5-11 to be offered COVID-19 vaccination appointments in community clinics from 19 March 2022. (22 February 2022)
Scottish Government – second booster jabs will be offered to those aged 75 and over, residents in care homes and immunosuppressed individuals aged 12and over. The people will be invited as they become eligible from at least 24 weeks after their last booster. (21 February 2022)
UK Government – JCVI updates advice on vaccinations for 5 to 11 age group. The committee recommends a non-urgent offer to all 5 to 11 year olds of 2 (10mcg) doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech paediatric vaccine. The 2 doses should be given with an interval of at least 12 weeks between doses. (16 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Flu vaccinations are on offer again until the end of March for those in high risk groups (the programme was paused in December so that health boards could prioritise the delivery of COVID-19 booster jabs). (4 February 2022)
UK Government – Novavax COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid approved by MHRA. (3 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Adults aged 18-59 who have not yet had their booster jab will start to receive blue envelopes from 1 February with scheduled appointments. (31 January 2022)
UK Government – The UK’s second ground-breaking antiviral (PF-07321332+ritonavir) will be made available to those with weakened immune systems from Thursday 10 February. (28 January 2022)
UK Government – report from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on COVID-19 vaccines provides data on the effectiveness of booster vaccines in protecting against the Omicron variant. (27 January 2022)
UK Government – over 5,000 people in the UK are enrolled in a study for COVID-19 antivirals. (26 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce children aged five to 11 years old with specific medical conditions will start receiving invitations for their first Covid-19 vaccination. (18 January 2022)
UK Government – New report from the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on the effectiveness of 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic COVID-19 and hospitalisation in adults aged 65 years and older. (7 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce changes to self-isolation and testing. From 6 January, new cases can end self-isolation if they don’t have a fever and test negative on a LFD on Day 6 and again at least 24 hours later. Anyone who tests positive on a LFD will no longer be asked to take a PCR test to confirm the result. (5 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce that priority for PCR test site slots will be given to essential workers, those at highest risk and anyone eligible for new Covid treatments. A self-isolation exemption scheme is also available for essential workers. (29 December 2021)
Scottish Government brings forward second doses for young people. Following JCVI advice, 12-15 year olds can get their second vaccination from 12 weeks after their first dose. (2 January 2022)
Scottish Government – additional, one-off COVID-19 dataset published, which includes information on the Omicron variant and provisional flu vaccinations. (23 December 2021)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – issues updated guidance on vaccinations for 5 to 11 year olds, recommending that those who are in a clinical risk group or are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed, should be offered a primary course of vaccination. In addition, booster vaccinations are recommended for 16-17 year olds and 12-15 year olds that are in a clinical risk group or severely immunocompromised and have had a third primary dose. (22 December 2021)
UK Government – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves a new formulation of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) for use in children aged 5 to 11 years. (22 December 2021)
Scottish Government publish updated guidance on visiting care homes and hospitals. Adult care homes and hospitals should continue to support visits for residents and patients, however new recommendations set out that visits should be in line with the rules for the general public brought in to control the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government publish updated guidance on reducing social interaction at home or in indoor public places to a maximum of three households at any time, with everyone encouraged to take a lateral flow test before meeting. (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government announce steps to accelerate booster programme. The online booking portal will be open to everyone aged 18-29 from 15 December and the waiting period following vaccination will be reduced from 15 minutes to five minutes. (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Asymptomatic Testing Programme Evaluation (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government announce all 30-39 year olds will be able to book their appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine booster from Monday 13 December. (12 December 2021)
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith encourages people to come forward for a COVID-19 antiviral trial undertaken by the University of Oxford. (8 December 2021)
UK Government signs contracts to buy a total of 114 million additional Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna doses for 2022 and 2023. (2 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Transparent face masks introduced to NHS Scotland (1 December 2021)
JCVI issue new advice on COVID-19 booster vaccines for those aged 18 to 39 and a second dose for ages 12 to 15. In response to the changing risk posed by the Omicron variant, the booster will now be given no sooner than 3 months after the primary course. In addition, a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for young people aged 12 to 15 years is advised no sooner than 12 weeks after the first dose. (29 November 2021)
Scottish Government – The online portal for booking COVID-19 booster appointments opens for people aged 40-49 years old. (27 November 2021)
UK Government – data on a study by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is published, which looks at the effectiveness and safety record of COVID-19 vaccines on pregnant women. (25 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Online portal for Autumn/Winter vaccination programme. The portal allows people aged 50 to 59, unpaid carers who are 16 and over, and those aged 16 and over who are household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals to book their booster and flu jabs. (15 November 2021)
Scottish Government – people who took part in trials for COVID-19 vaccines which have not yet been authorised for use in the UK will be able to request an additional primary course of approved vaccinations. (12 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Invitations for the flu and COVID-19 Booster vaccination programmes begin for the next eligible groups. Invitation letters for people aged 60 to 69 and adults aged 16 and over with underlying health conditions are to be sent out from 25 October. (25 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Update to vaccine certification Apps. Businesses should now update the customer COVID Check (verifier) App to ensure the QR code shows a green tick when scanned. Customers seeking to access venues affected should download the updated NHS Covid Status app. (19 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Invitations for coronavirus (COVID-19) booster injections are issued to people aged 70 and over and those aged 16 and over who are at highest risk, with appointments scheduled from the week beginning 4 October. (30 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Strategy paper setting out the Scottish Government’s approach to care and support for people with long Covid. (30 September 2021)
Scottish Government – updated 2021 vaccination strategy, including plans for COVID-19 and seasonal influenza (flu) vaccinations in autumn and winter 2021 to 2022 in Scotland. (30 September 2021)
Scottish Government – All 12-15 year olds who haven’t yet received their COVID-19 vaccination will receive letters of offer from Monday 27 September. (27 September 2021)
Scottish Government – A five-week consultation is to be held on introducing Anne’s Law – to ensure people who live in adult care homes have rights to be able to have direct contact with people who are important to them in order to support their health and wellbeing. (24 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Covid-19 booster vaccinations underway. Residents in care homes for older people are the first to be offered Covid-19 booster vaccinations. Injections will be given alongside flu jab where appropriate. (20 September 2021)
Scottish Government – new guidance for care homes, which allows care home residents to choose a friend or relative as a ‘named visitor’ who will be able to visit them, even during a managed Covid-19 outbreak. (15 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Hospital PFI car parks in Glasgow and Dundee bought out. Negotiations are also progressing to take over the last remaining PFI car park in Scotland at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Parking charges have been suspended at the three hospital PFI facilities since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The agreements to take the car parks into public hands will mean this becomes permanent. (24 August 2021)
Scottish Government – People who test positive for COVID-19 are being encouraged to securely list details of their close contacts online when asked by Test and Protect. (24 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Professor Amanda Croft, Scotland’s Chief Nursing Officer, is standing down from her role. Cover will be provided by the Deputy Chief Nursing officers team until 4 October when Professor Alex McMahon, currently Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals for NHS Lothian, will take over on an interim basis. (23 August 2021)
UK Government launches UK-wide antibody surveillance programme for the general public for the first time. Home antibody tests available for up to 8,000 people a day across the UK who opt in to the service through NHS Test and Trace. (22 August 2021)

Scottish Government – CMO urges pregnant women to get vaccinated. (21 August 2021)
UK Government –299,700 vaccine doses donated to Egypt, and 119,040 doses donated to Malawi. (17 August 2021)

Scottish Government – Pfizer drop-in centres in mainland Scotland are to offer the vaccine to 16 and 17 year olds from Tuesday 10 August. Eligible young people in Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles are to be contacted by their health board. (07 August 2021)
Scottish Government – all young people 16 to 17 years of age to be offered the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination in Scotland from 6 August. (04 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Children and young people aged 12-17 from key groups to be offered COVID-19 vaccine. (01 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Changes to self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID-19 cases – essential staff in critical roles will be allowed to return to work to maintain lifeline services and critical national infrastructure. (23 July 2021)
Scottish Government – The vaccination programme will complete first doses for all over 18s who have attended their scheduled appointments at close of play on Sunday 18 July. Second doses continue to be scheduled and it is expected all adults will have received them by Sunday 12 September. (18 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Test and Protect to prioritise high risk cases. SMS text messages will now be used more extensively for low risk index cases, with direct telephone calls continuing to be used for the most high risk cases. (3 July 2021)
Scottish Government – All mainland health boards will offer drop-in coronavirus vaccination clinics from Monday 5 July. (2 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Self-registration portal for all over 18s (27 June 2021)
Scottish Government – From Monday 21 June all NHS boards will be routinely scheduling vaccination second doses eight weeks after the first. Letters are to be sent out to 18-29 year olds who didn’t sign up to the self-registration portal and anyone who hasn’t yet received their blue envelope can see the time of their vaccination online through a new appointment checker. (18 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Bringing forward second vaccine doses for over-40s (13 June 2021)
Scottish Government – rapid test kits to be rolled out to community pharmacies from 9 June. (9 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Military personnel to assist with vaccinations from Monday 7 June in NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian. (4 June 2021)
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use in 12- to 15-year-olds (4 June 2021)
World Health Organisation renames UK and other variants with Greek letters (1 June 2021)
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves the one-dose Janssen Covid-19 vaccine for use in the UK (28 May 2021)
Scottish Government – Launch of the COVID-19 vaccination status scheme. The service will provide confirmation of vaccination when required for foreign travel. (19 May 2021)
Scottish Government – Free lateral flow test kits to be available for anyone without symptoms from Monday 26 April (25 April 2021)
Scottish Government – Outpatient guidance for people on cancer pathways (31 March 2021)
UK regulator – people should continue to receive the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca. Following suspensions by some countries of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca over suspected blood clots, the MHRA confirms that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 far outweigh the risks. (18 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Closure of NHS Louisa Jordan. The hospital, which was set up to support Scotland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is to close on 31 March, with the mass vaccination centre relocating to The SSE Hydro. (18 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Research report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted disabled people. (16 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus vaccine self-registration service for unpaid carers. (15 March 2021)

Scottish Government – vaccinations for those aged between 55 and 59 years old (group 8 on the priority list) will start in the week beginning 15 March. (9 March 2021)

Scottish Government – Access to testing now available from 21 fire stations across Highland and Argyll & Bute. (26 February 2021)
Scottish Government – Open with Care – supporting meaningful contact in care homes: guidance (24 February 2021)
Scottish Government – Routine indoor visiting of care home residents will resume from early March with care providers supporting residents to have up to two designated visitors each and one visit a week for each visitor. (20 February 2021)
Scottish Government – People with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers are beginning to receive coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations. (22 February 2021)
Scottish Government – expansion of testing to include anyone who is identified as a close contact of somebody who has tested positive for COVID-19, from 18 February. (17 February 2021)
Scottish Government – community testing site for people without COVID-19 symptoms to open in Cowdenbeath, Fife from Wednesday 10 February. (5 February 2021)

Scottish Government – Invitations to a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine appointment for people aged 70-79 will commence from Monday 25 January. (24 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Vaccination information campaign (launched 21 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Right Care, Right Place – a guide to NHS Scotland services (18 January 2021)
UK Government – NHS patients to receive life-saving COVID-19 treatments that could cut hospital time by 10 days. Results from the government-funded REMAP-CAP clinical trial show tocilizumab and sarilumab reduced the relative risk of death by 24%, when administered to patients within 24 hours of entering intensive care. (7 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus testing will be available from two fire stations in Thurso and Lochgilphead between 6 and 29 January, as part of a trial to increase testing access in remote and rural areas. (5 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Adult care home visitor testing guidance (1 January 2021)
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the UK (30 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Community testing in areas with high coronavirus (COVID-19) prevalence will begin in January 2021 (23 December 2020)
Scottish Government announce the opening of the first of three regional laboratory hubs set up to increase Scotland’s testing capacity. (15 December 2020)
Scottish Government – First vaccinations in care homes in Scotland have taken place (14 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Visiting arrangements for hospitals and care homes in Scotland will remain in place over the Christmas and New Year period (11 December 2020)
Scottish Government – The self-isolation period for positive contacts and overseas arrivals will be reduced from 14 days to 10 days, starting from Monday, 14 December 2020 (11 December 2020)

Scottish Government – First vaccinations against coronavirus (COVID-19) have been given in Scotland to those who will be carrying out the vaccination programme (8 December 2020)
NHS Inform guidance on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (updated regularly)
Scottish Government – Lateral flow testing of designated visitors to be trialled in 14 care homes in North Ayrshire, Fife, Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde, and Aberdeenshire (6 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Changes to the way patients access emergency hospital treatment. Anyone with a non-life threatening condition who would usually go to A&E should now call NHS 24 on 111 first, day or night, to be directed to the right NHS service (3 December 2020)
UK Government – The vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been authorised by the medicines regulator for use in the UK (2 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Scotland’s first Community Asymptomatic Test (CAT) site opened in Johnstone, Renfrewshire (2 December 2020)

Scottish Government guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test, how to get tested and the different types of test available (updated regularly)
Scottish Government information and support for people who are asked to self-isolate (updated regularly)
Scottish Government shielding advice and support (updated regularly)

Scottish Government advice for people with specific medical conditions (17 July 2020)

NHS Inform guidance on immunisation services and national screening programmes (updated regularly)

Scottish Government consultation on extending the current arrangements for early medical abortion at home; the consultation will run from 30 September until 5 January 2021

Scottish Government hospital visiting guidance (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance on care home visiting (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance on the public use of face coverings (updated regularly)

Scottish Government Vitamin D: advice for all age groups (1 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Mental health – transition and recovery plan (8 October 2020)
Scottish Government Clear Your Head campaign; provides advice and support to help people cope during COVID-19
Scottish Government helpline for vulnerable people

Age Scotland advice for older people and their families on how to avoid exposure to the virus (updated regularly)
NHS Inform guidance on healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees living in Scotland (updated regularly)
NHS Inform guidance on healthcare for overseas visitors (updated regularly)

Information and Guidance for health and social care professionals

Scottish Government – progress report: an overview of the inclusive approach adopted during the first stage of the COVID-19 vaccinations programme, from December 2020 to September 2021 (7 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Care homes guidance
Scottish Government issue new guidance for care home operators, reducing and removing isolation periods for care home residents. (20 January 2022)
Scottish Government – Chief Medical Officer writes to health boards on the temporary deferral of fertility treatment for patients not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (7 January 2022)
Scottish Government – New staff joining the social care workforce are to have entry costs (PVG checks and SSC registration fees) paid by the Scottish Government until the end of March. (14 January 2022)
Scottish Government – Joint statement with COSLA on service disruptions due to the prioritisation of social care during the COVID-19 pandemic. (11 January 2022)
Scottish Government – measures to support the NHS and to free up more hospital beds. This includes £500,000 to fund 25,000 remote monitoring kits and the expansion of the Hospital at Home, Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) services for managing infections and Community Respiratory pathways. (11 January 2022)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advise there is no immediate need to introduce a second booster dose, or fourth jab, to the most vulnerable. JCVI advise that priority should continue to be given to rolling out first booster doses to all age groups. (7 January 2022)
Scottish Government – Requests for military assistance for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Grampian and NHS Lanarkshire are approved, in order to help manage growing pressures. (23 December 2021)
Scottish Government – guidance for NHS staff working in maternity, community and Health and Social Care Partnerships during the COVID-19 outbreak. (21 December 2021)
Scottish Government – National clinical guidance for community child health services, including health visiting, family nurse partnership, school nursing and infant feeding through the coronavirus pandemic. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Asymptomatic Testing Programme Evaluation (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government – appeal for more vaccinators to help accelerate the booster programme. (9 December 2021)
UK Government signs contracts to buy a total of 114 million additional Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna doses for 2022 and 2023. (2 December 2021)
MHRA approves Xevudy (sotrovimab), a COVID-19 treatment found to cut hospitalisation and death by 79%. This monoclonal antibody – the second to be authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – is for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease. (2 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Transparent face masks introduced to NHS Scotland (1 December 2021)
Scottish Government publish the Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan, backed by £70 million funding, to support faster diagnosis of cancers and other illnesses of the digestive system, bladder and prostate. (30 November 2021)
JCVI issue new advice on COVID-19 booster vaccines for those aged 18 to 39 and a second dose for ages 12 to 15. In response to the changing risk posed by the Omicron variant, the booster will now be given no sooner than 3 months after the primary course. In addition, a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for young people aged 12 to 15 years is advised no sooner than 12 weeks after the first dose. (29 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Scotland’s contact tracing workforce to remain in place until September 2022. (25 November 2021)
UK Government – updated infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance for health and care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic to cover other seasonal respiratory infections. (22 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus (COVID-19): vaccine protocols (updated 16 November 2021)
JCVI – Advice on COVID-19 booster vaccines for those aged 40 to 49 and second doses for 16 to 17 year olds – All adults aged 40 to 49 years should be offered an mRNA booster, 6 months after their second dose, irrespective of the vaccines given for the first and second doses. All 16 to 17 year olds who are not in an at-risk group should be offered a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The second vaccine dose should be given 12 weeks or more following the first vaccine dose. (15 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Hospitals in Scotland will be rolling out new three-in-one winter virus tests to identify whether patients are infected with Covid-19, flu or RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). (14 November 2021)
Scottish Government – New guidance for A&E departments, supporting hospitals to refer people to the most appropriate place for treatment, if they do not need emergency care. (3 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Military will support the national Autumn/Winter vaccination programme. (1 November 2021)
Scottish Government – adult social care Winter Preparedness Plan 2021-22 published. (22 October 2021)
Scottish Government launch NHS Scotland Academy, a collaboration between NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Education for Scotland, backed by £9 million of investment. (20 October 2021)
Scottish Government – NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Borders to receive military assistance from 19 October (15 October 2021)
UK Government – open letter signed by individuals who have provided science advice to various governments, calling for leaders to recognise vaccine trial participants as having legitimate certification for international travel and other purposes. (15 October 2021)
Scottish Government – £500 payment for health and social care staff: guidance for former employees of social care providers who have ceased trading. (24 September 2021)
UK Government – Ronapreve becomes the first neutralising antibody medicine specifically designed to treat COVID-19 to be authorised by the MHRA for use in the UK. (17 September 2021)
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – regulatory update on the COVID-19 booster vaccine programme for winter 2021-22. (14 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Children and young people aged 12 -15 years old will be offered a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from Monday 20 September. (14 September 2021)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – guidance advising that booster vaccines be offered to those more at risk from serious disease, and who were vaccinated during Phase 1 of the vaccine programme. (14 September 2021)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) issue updated advice on COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 12 to 15. Health benefits from vaccination are marginally greater than the potential known harms. However, the margin of benefit is considered too small to support universal vaccination of healthy 12 to 15 year olds at this time. (3 September 2021)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) publishes guidance advising that people who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second dose of the vaccine should be offered a third dose. (1 September 2021)
Scottish Government published its NHS Recovery Plan, setting out key actions for the next five years to help address backlogs in healthcare and increase capacity by at least 10%. (25 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Hospital PFI car parks in Glasgow and Dundee bought out. Negotiations are also progressing to take over the last remaining PFI car park in Scotland at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Parking charges have been suspended at the three hospital PFI facilities since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The agreements to take the car parks into public hands will mean this becomes permanent. (24 August 2021)

UK Government – UK signs deal with Pfizer/BioNTech for 35 million vaccines. The doses will be delivered from the second half of 2022. (23 August 2021)
Scottish Government – letter from Chief Medical Officer on pregnancy and vaccines. (18 August 2021)

MHRA – the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in 12-17 year olds. (17 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Professor Alison Strath confirmed as the Scottish Government’s new Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO), while Professors Graham Ellis and Nicola Steedman have been appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officers (DCMOs). (11 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Two metre physical distancing will remain in place at health care settings across Scotland from Monday (August 9) when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted elsewhere in the country. (07 August 2021)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – updated advice on COVID-19 vaccination of young people aged 16 to 17. (04 August 2021)
JCVI – advice on COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people – children at increased risk of serious COVID-19 disease should be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. That includes children aged 12 to 15 with severe neurodisabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities. (19 July 2021)
Chief Nursing Officer – letter to the social care sector with advice on increasing contact and activities with residents and day care services in care homes at Level 0. (15 July 2021)
Scottish Government – supplementary guidance including answers to practical questions and concerns resulting from Open with Care: supporting meaningful contact and activities in and away from care homes. (15 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Deployment of additional staff to bolster Test and Protect (9 July 2021)
JCVI – Interim advice on COVID-19 booster vaccination – any potential COVID-19 booster programme should be offered in 2 stages from September, starting with those most at risk from serious disease. (30 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Professor Julie Fitzpatrick OBE is appointed as the Scottish Government’s next Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA). (4 June 2021)
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use in 12- to 15-year-olds (4 June 2021)
World Health Organisation renames UK and other variants with Greek letters (1 June 2021)
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves the one-dose Janssen Covid-19 vaccine for use in the UK (28 May 2021)
UK Government – UK secures extra 60 million Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines to be used alongside other vaccines to support preparations for a booster programme from the autumn (28 April 2021)
UK Government – Antivirals Taskforce launched to identify treatments for UK patients who have been exposed to COVID-19. (20 April 2021)
JCVI – New advice on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women. Pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the rest of the population, based on their age and clinical risk group. (16 April 2021)
JCVI – New advice regarding the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following reports of extremely rare blood clots. Adults aged under 30 with no underlying conditions should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine where available. (8 April 2021)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – advises prioritising homeless people and rough sleepers for COVID-19 vaccine. (11 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Workforce Specialist Service, new specialist service offering confidential mental health assessment and treatment to health and social care professionals. (26 February 2021)
Scottish Government – Information and guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme (updated regularly)
Scottish Government – Guidance on coronavirus testing for the care at home sector (15 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Independent hospitals to support elective care (19 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Letter from the Chief Medical Officer on the arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination programme (1 January 2021)
UK Chief Medical Officers – Statement on the prioritisation of first doses of the coronavirus vaccines (30 December 2020)
Scottish Government – £500 payment for health and social care staff – questions and answers (23 December 2020)
Scottish Government – new app for health and care home staff carrying out coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations to provide rapid access to relevant patient information and collect data on how many people have received the vaccination. (20 December 2020)
Scottish Government – Guidance on financial support arrangements for social care providers for costs relating to the COVID-19 pandemic from December 2020 to March 2021 (16 December 2020)

Scottish Government – Everyone Matters Pulse Survey of health and social care staff in Scotland (4 December 2020)
Scottish Government – plans for the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines (19 November 2020)

Scottish Government clinical guidance for health and social care professionals (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance on the routine testing of healthcare workers (updated regularly)
Scottish Government hospital visiting guidance (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance on care home visiting (updated regularly)
Health Protection Scotland information and guidance for care home settings (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for unpaid carers (updated regularly)
Scottish Government information on PPE access for social care providers and unpaid carers (updated regularly)

Scottish Government – Care Home Review (A rapid review of factors relevant to the management of COVID-19 in the care home environment in Scotland) (3 November 2020)

Scottish Government – COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Plan (28 October 2020)
Scottish Government – Mental health needs of hospitalised patients – report (2 October 2020)
Scottish Government – Framework for the recovery of cancer surgery (25 August 2020)
Scottish Government – Framework for supporting people through Recovery and Rehabilitation during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic (13 August 2020)
Scottish Government – Mobilisation of key clinical services (19 June 2020)

Scottish Government – Report on Personal Protective Equipment supplies (4 June 2020)
Scottish Government – ‘Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design, The Framework for NHS Scotland’; Sets out how health boards will safely and incrementally prioritise the resumption of some paused services, while maintaining COVID-19 capacity and resilience (31 May 2020)

Scottish Government – Care home staffing and escalation resources (updated regularly)
British Medical Association guidance for doctors on the impact of coronavirus on work, training, education, and wellbeing as a medical professional (updated regularly)
Royal College of Nursing frequently asked questions for nursing and midwifery staff (updated regularly)
British Dental Association – Live updates: Coronavirus and dentistry

Funding and Support

Scottish Government – A new £1 million fund to support projects which look after the wellbeing of staff working in social care. (2 February 2022)
Scottish Government announce financial support for adult care providers who incur additional costs if employees are vaccinated in working time. (12 December 2021)
Scottish Government – £30 million funding for GP practices to help support more face-to-face appointments. (29 November 2021)
Scottish Government – £10 million winter funding for NHS health boards to improve A&E waiting times. (2 November 2021)
Scottish Government – £32 million for 139 additional trainee doctors. (31 October 2021)
Scottish Government – £10 million to help patients avoid a hospital stay wherever possible and to prevent delayed discharge for inpatients. (26 October 2021)
Scottish Government – £482 million to NHS Boards and Integration Authorities to meet costs of the pandemic and remobilising health services. (26 October 2021)
Scottish Government– £300 million NHS and Care Winter Package (5 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Additional funding of £20 million will be invested in the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to help improve response times, alleviate pressures and improve staff wellbeing. (21 September 2021)
Scottish Government – £10 million Long COVID Support Fund to help health boards respond to the condition. (9 September 2021)
Scottish Government – £11.5 million funding to help reduce waiting times as part of NHS remobilisation efforts. (29 July 2021)
Scottish Government – £12 million in additional funding to health boards across Scotland to support non-COVID emergency care. (11 July 2021)
Scottish Government – £380 million additional funding to help Health Boards with pandemic costs (2 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Social care Personal Assistants to receive £500 payment (30 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £8 million funding package for health and social care workforce wellbeing (27 June 2021)
Scottish Government – funding of up to £5 million to help NHS dental practices to purchase, renew or upgrade ventilation equipment. (10 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £8 million funding for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students, to help access alternative clinical placements. (23 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Updated testing strategy and £13 million investment to establish Scotland’s own genomic sequencing service to track new COVID-19 variants and manage future outbreaks. (17 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Additional funding of £500,000 is being allocated to provide practical measures of support for health and social care staff working to tackle the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (22 January 2021)
Scottish Government – £750,000 investment in local carer centres to increase support for unpaid carers (18 January 2021)
Scottish Government – £500 bonus for health and social care staff (30 November 2020)

UK Government – Free visa extensions for health workers (20 November 2020)

Scottish Government – £1 million funding for digital devices to keep care home residents connected (16 November 2020)

Scottish Government – Adult Social Care Winter Preparedness Plan (3 November 2020)
Scottish Government – Additional funding for ambulances and staff (1 November 2020)
Scottish Government – NHS Winter Preparedness Plan to support health and care services over the winter (28 October 2020)
Scottish Government – Additional funding for the health and social care sector to assist in the COVID-19 pandemic response and winter preparations (29 September 2020)

Scottish Government – Social Care Staff Support Fund for social care workers who are ill or self-isolating due to coronavirus (30 June 2020)

Scottish Government – Extra financial support for social care workers (24 May 2020)

Scottish Government – Families of frontline NHS staff who die as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) will receive financial support (29 April 2020)
National Wellbeing Hub for health and social services workers
Scottish Government – Health and Social Care Workforce Mental Wellbeing Support Helpline

Housing and Planning

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government – letter from Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, to local authorities on the continuation of building standards special measures guidance during COVID-19. (26 October 2021)
Scottish Government temporary ban on eviction orders will be extended until the end of March (7 January 2021)
Scottish Government temporary ban on evictions (3 December 2020)
Scottish Government guidance for social landlords (14 April 2020)
Scottish Government guidance for private landlords and letting agents (updated regularly)
Scottish Government advice and support for private tenants (7 August 2020)
Scottish Government guidance on moving home (updated regularly)
Scottish Government second homes guidance (updated regularly)
Shelter Scotland housing advice (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance notes for planning and environmental appeals reporters (updated regularly)

Funding and Support

Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tenant Grant Fund: guidance for local authorities (18 November 2021)
Scottish Government £10 million Tenant Hardship Loan Fund to help people who have had their finances or employment impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and do not have other means of housing support. (7 December 2020)
Scottish Government initiatives to support homebuyers – raising the threshold at which Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is paid from £145,000 to £250,000 and additional funding for the First Home Fund (9 July 2020)
Scottish Government one-year extension to the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme (11 June 2020)

Justice

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government – new regulations to be laid on 29 January to reduce the unpaid work element imposed in existing Community Payback Orders by 35% (28 January 2021)
Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service – changes to criminal court practices to reduce transmission of coronavirus, which will reduce the overall number of criminal trials taking place during lockdown by up to 75%. (11 January 2021)
Scottish Government guidance on domestic abuse (13 July 2020)
Scottish Government report on domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls – 30/3/20-22/05/20 (19 June 2020)
Scottish Government report on domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls during Phases 1, 2 and 3 of Scotland’s route map (22 May to 11 August 2020) (18 September 2020)
Scottish Government report on domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls during Phase 3 of Scotland’s route map (11 August – 11 October) (5 November 2020)
Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service information and updates on business changes (updated regularly)
Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service information for those due to attend court (updated regularly)
Scottish Prison Service announcements and statistics on numbers of prison population self-isolating and those who have tested positive for COVID-19 (updated regularly)
Families Outside information and guidance for prison visits (updated regularly)

Funding and Support

Scottish Government – the Legal Aid Business Support and Recovery Fund opens for applications. The fund will be distributed to legal aid practices as part of the Scottish Government’s Recover, Renew and Transform programme to support the justice sector. (04 August 2021)
Scottish Government – £1 million funding to support legal aid trainees (3 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Legal Aid Assistance Fund for legal aid firms and law centres, worth up to £9 million, opens for applications. (10 February 2021)
Scottish Government – package of support of up to £20m for the legal profession, including a resilience fund of up to £9 million of grants available to support legal aid solicitors and Law Centres who have had a loss of legal aid income due to Covid. (22 December 2020)
Scottish Government – opening of the Delivering Equally Safe Fund, to support organisations and projects that work to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG). Applications will close on 31 March 2021. (7 December 2020)
Scottish Government funding for charities and projects tackling violence against women and girls (20 September 2020)
Scottish Government funding for organisations providing support to women involved in prostitution (17 May 2020)
Scottish Government Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support fund (24 April 2020)

Parliament & Government

Legislation

Primary Legislation

Secondary Legislation

Scottish Government Action

Scottish Government – Scotland’s updated Strategic Framework published. (22 February 2022)
Scottish Government – evidence paper to accompany the Strategic Framework update, providing an overview of the key analysis and evidence underpinning the Framework. (22 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus Acts: eleventh report to Scottish Parliament (11 February 2022)
Scottish Government – £1.5m funding to UNICEF to support COVID-19 vaccination programmes in Rwanda, Zambia and Malawi. (10 February 2022)
Scottish Government – extension of the expiry date for statutory coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions and requirements to 24 September 2022. The restrictions will remain subject to review every three weeks. (9 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Six month extension to some temporary provisions made under UK legislation. (3 February 2022)
Scottish Government – Joint statement from the finance Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, calling on the Treasury to guarantee that money allocated to support COVID-19 responses will be provided in full. (12 January 2022)
Scottish Government – December update of the autumn/winter vaccination strategy 2021, which includes a progress report and accelerated delivery plans in response to the Omicron Variant. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government announce the chair and terms of reference for the public inquiry into the handling of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland. The Hon. Lady Poole QC, Senator of the College of Justice of Scotland, will chair the inquiry. (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government publish the 2022-2023 Scottish Budget, aiming to restore public services and to respond to the pressures created by the pandemic. (9 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus Acts: Tenth report to Scottish Parliament (13 December 2021)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon writes to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson regarding international vaccine inequity. The letter asks the UK Government to support a temporary waiver of obligations to protect Intellectual Property for COVID-19 vaccines. (9 December 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus Acts: ninth report to Scottish Parliament (13 October 2021)
Scottish Government – A five-week consultation is to be held on introducing Anne’s Law – to ensure people who live in adult care homes have rights to be able to have direct contact with people who are important to them in order to support their health and wellbeing. (24 September 2021)
Scottish Government – Programme for Government 2021-22. The core priorities of the programme are ‘leading Scotland safely out of the pandemic, urgently confronting climate change, driving a green, fair economic recovery, and boosting opportunities for children and young people’. (7 September 2021)
Scottish Government invites views on the draft aims and principles of an independent public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (24 August 2021)
Scottish Government – The Standing Committee on Pandemics, which is tasked with preparing Scotland for the threat of future pandemics, is established. (19 August 2021)
Scottish Government – consultation on Scotland’s recovery launched, which sets out a range of proposals, including whether some temporary provisions made under Scottish and UK coronavirus legislation and due to expire in March 2022 should be maintained. (17 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus Acts: eighth report To Scottish Parliament (13 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus Acts: seventh report to Scottish Parliament (9 June 2021)
Scottish Government – John Swinney is appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery. (18 May 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus Acts: Sixth Report to Scottish Parliament (14 April 2021)
Scottish Government – response to the Social Renewal Advisory Board’s Report “If not now, when?” published. The Report sets out a number of actions the Scottish Government will take forward to ensure that tackling poverty and inequality are central to the recovery from COVID-19. (23 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 and the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020 – proposed extension: statement of reasons (24 February 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus Acts: fifth report to Scottish Parliament (11 February 2021)
Scottish Government Coronavirus Acts: Fourth Report to Scottish Parliament (9 December 2020)
Scottish Government Coronavirus Acts: third report to Scottish Parliament (6 October 2020)
Scottish Government Coronavirus Acts: second report to Scottish Parliament (11 August 2020)
Scottish Government Coronavirus Acts: first report to Scottish Parliament (9 June 2020)
Scottish Government Programme for Government 2020-21 (1 September 2020)
First Minister’s updates and statements
Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) advisory groups

Scottish Parliament Action

Scottish Parliament – Call for views on the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill. (3 February 2022)
Scottish Parliament – The Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill is introduced. The Bill proposes changes in 30 specific legislative areas, which were modified by temporary provisions made under Scottish and UK coronavirus legislation. (25 January 2022)
Scottish Parliament – An inquiry into the cause of increased excess deaths in Scotland since the start of the pandemic has been launched by the Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee. A call for views has been issued, closing on 7 January 2022. (9 December 2021)
Scottish Parliament – The Covid-19 Recovery Committee has launched a call for views on the Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill, which is open until 10 December 2021. (16 November 2021)
Scottish Parliament COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Scottish Parliament list of COVID-19 related parliamentary questions and answers. Parliamentary questions can be asked by an MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to obtain factual and statistical information (updated regularly)
Scottish Parliament COVID-19 Committee work
Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee COVID-19 work

People & Communities (including charities, third sector and volunteering)

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government – voluntary ‘Distance Aware’ scheme launched, which offers badges and lanyards to people who wish to show others they would welcome additional space and extra care while out in public. (23 January 2022)
Scottish Government – relaxation of restrictions on weddings from 28 June: those employed at weddings will no longer count towards the capacity limit; wedding couples will no longer require face masks for walking down the aisle; and live entertainment will be permitted. (22 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Places of worship in Level 4 areas can reopen from Friday 26 March. (23 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Coronavirus information and available services, including helpline numbers to assist older people (15 December 2020)
Scottish Government guidance for wedding ceremonies and civil partnership registrations (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for places of worship (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for funeral services (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for funeral directors (25 November 2020)
Scottish Government guidance for burial and cremation authorities (30 October 2020)
Scottish Government guidance for public libraries (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for the community learning and development sector (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for community food-growing spaces (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for household waste recycling centres (11 August 2020)
Scottish Government guidance for local authorities to support people to access food and other essentials, including those isolating under test and protect (15 July 2020)
Scottish Government framework to support gypsy/traveller communities (25 June 2020)
UK Government guidance for the charity sector (updated regularly)
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Coronavirus Third Sector Information Hub
Volunteer Scotland information for volunteers and organisations
Ready Scotland guidance on giving and finding help during the coronavirus pandemic, preparing for winter weather, and forming community groups
Scottish Government analysis of COVID-19 impacts on different groups of the population

UK Government Covid fraud hotline – enables people to report suspected fraudulent use of coronavirus support schemes anonymously and free of charge

Funding and Support

Scottish Government announce funding of £25 million to support community projects and local economies. The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund will support 22 locally developed place-based projects that tackle inequalities and promote sustainable and inclusive economic recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (17 December 2021)
Scottish Government – £15 million Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (15 October 2021)
Scottish Government – £1.6 million funding to help local authorities deliver services that can support people affected by psychological trauma and adversity (7 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Nine projects supporting carers and disabled people will share £1 million to tackle loneliness and isolation as a result of the pandemic. (29 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Additional £5 million for frontline services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence. (25 July 2021)
Scottish Government – £90,000 to support women involved in prostitution (16 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £1 million support fund for Armed Forces charities (4 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £1 million Armed Forces Third Sector Resilience Fund announced to support armed forces charities. (23 March 2021)
Scottish Government – £2 million City Centres Recovery Fund and £2 million Regional Recovery Fund. (17 March 2021)
Scottish Government – £15 million Scottish Community Lenders Fund to support affordable lending services. (24 February 2021)
Scottish Government – £7 million Equality and Human Rights Fund. (22 February 2021)
Scottish Government – a further £100 COVID Hardship Payment for qualifying low income families whose children receive free meals in schools and early learning and childcare settings. (17 February 2021)
Scottish Government – additional funding for the Young Person’s Guarantee, the National Transition Training Fund and for No One Left Behind (14 February 2021)
Scottish Government – £5.91 million for tackling social isolation and loneliness. Part of the £100 million winter package, the funding will support services such as wellbeing calls, befriending networks, advice and volunteering. (11 December 2020)
Scottish Government – £3.3m for Charities working with children and families on low incomes. Nine charities will receive funding to support their work, or to distribute to grass-roots organisations to help meet the needs of those affected by poverty at Christmas and in the new year. (10 December 2020)
Scottish Government community funding digital maps
Scottish Government £100 million Winter Support Fund to help communities at risk (announced 30 November 2020)
Scottish Government funding for services delivering mental health support to veterans (17 November 2020)
Scottish Government funding for organisations supporting people subject to No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) (16 November 2020)
Scottish Government Connecting Scotland programme – provides iPads, Chromebooks and support to develop digital skills for people who are digitally excluded and on low incomes (a second round of applications for Phase 2 opened on 24th November)
Scottish Government – Further funding for councils to provide free school meals through the winter breaks and additional flexibility to use £20 million, previously held in reserve for the Scottish Welfare Fund, to support people in their communities (20 October 2020)

Rural Affairs

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government advice for pet owners and livestock keepers (updated regularly)
Scottish Government general guidance for farmers and crofters (updated regularly)
Scottish Environment Protection Agency temporary regulatory positions and guidance (updated regularly)

Scottish Natural Heritage guidance on access to the outdoors during the coronavirus outbreak

NFU support and intelligence for farm based businesses
Farmers Guardian covering of COVID-19 impacts on UK agriculture

Funding and Support

Scottish Government publish details of the allocation of the Healthy Islands Fund, aiming to promote healthy and resilient island communities. (3 January 2022)
Scottish Government – Round Two of the Better Places Green Recovery Fund. (19 March 2021)
Scottish Government – The Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund reopens for applications. (24 February 2021)
Scottish Government £1m funding for the Scottish Nephrops Working Group to investigate the scale of the challenges to the langoustine sector and to support the sector during the coronavirus pandemic. (7 November 2020)
Scottish Government Rural Payments – Overview of schemes (updated regularly)

Social Security

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government – Details of Scottish Child Payment Bridging Payment and Low Income Pandemic Payments made by local authorities in 2021. (7 February 2022)
Scottish Government launch the Money Support Scotland website, providing support for people facing financial difficulties. (30 November 2021)
Scottish Parliament – The Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill is introduced to Parliament. The Bill makes temporary modifications to the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 so that health boards have discretion as to whether to pay compensation for self-isolation in connection with coronavirus. (15 November 2021)
The Covid-19 Recovery Committee has launched a call for views on the bill, which is open until 10 December 2021. (16 November 2021)
Scottish Government update on delivery timeline for devolved benefits (17 November 2020)
Department for Work & Pensions advice on employment and claiming benefits (updated regularly)
Child Poverty Action Group briefings on changes to benefits (updated regularly)
Entitledto guide to what help is available from benefits if you are affected by coronavirus (updated regularly)

Funding and Support

Scottish Government – £41 million Winter Support Fund for low income households. (29 October 2021)
UK Government – Furlough scheme and Universal Credit uplift will be extended until the end of September. (3 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Criteria extended for Self-Isolation Support Grant (2 February 2021)
Scottish Government COVID winter hardship payment (£100 per child)
Scottish Government Self-Isolation Support Grant. The Grant is administered by local authorities through the Scottish Welfare Fund. Eligibility for the Grant now includes parents on low incomes whose children are asked to self-isolate and people who may be eligible for Universal Credit but have not yet applied. (30 November 2020)
Scottish Government £100 million Winter support fund to help communities at risk (30 November 2020)

Transport, Travel & Tourism

Information and Guidance

Scottish Government – all international travel restrictions for people coming to Scotland are to end from 4am on Friday 18 March. (14 March 2022)
Scottish Government – fully vaccinated arrivals into Scotland will no longer be required to possess a negative test result from 4am on 11 February. Non-vaccinated arrivals will still be required to take pre-departure tests and a PCR test on or before day two – but the requirement for isolation will end – and they will no longer have to take a day eight test. (24 January 2022)
UK Government – the airport slots rules alleviation is extended to cover Summer 2022. Airlines will need to use their slots 70% of the time to retain their rights to them. (24 January 2022)
Scottish Government – from 6 January, people travelling to Scotland from abroad who are fully vaccinated or under the age of 18 will no longer need to take pre-departure Covid tests, and will also no longer be required to self-isolate on arrival until they’ve received a negative result. (6 January 2022)
Scottish Government announce 11 countries are to be removed from the international travel red list as Omicron cases increase globally. Pre-departure tests and PCR testing measures on or before day 2 on arrival in Scotland will remain in place. (14 December 2021)
Scottish Government – From Tuesday 7 December, people arriving in Scotland from outside the Common Travel Area are required to provide a negative pre-departure test. Nigeria is added to the red list from Monday 6 December. (4 December 2021)
Scottish Government – New travel restrictions as a result of the omicron variant – fully vaccinated arrivals will need to take a PCR test within two days of arrival and to self-isolate until a negative result is received. Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia are added to the travel red list. (27 November 2021)
Scottish Government – travel restrictions for arrivals from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana. All travellers returning to Scotland from these countries are now required to self-isolate and take two PCR tests, regardless of their vaccination status. (26 November 2021)
Scottish Government – all under-18s arriving from non-red list countries will be treated as eligible vaccinated travellers, meaning they will require a Day 2 test after arrival but no isolation or Day 8 test. (9 November 2021)
Scottish Government – from Monday 22 November, vaccines from the World Health Organisation emergency use list (Sinopharm, Sinovac, Covaxin) will be recognised as eligible vaccines for the purposes of international travel. Travellers vaccinated with these products will be eligible for quarantine-free travel into Scotland if they have a certificate of vaccination status from a country listed in the regulations. (9 November 2021)
Scottish Government – Scottish (and other UK) Covid status certificates are adopted into the European Union’s Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC) scheme. From 1 November, Covid status certificates will be recognised by more than 40 countries. All EU DCC member countries will have their full certificates recognised and verifiable in Scotland. (29 October 2021)
Scottish Government – The final seven countries are removed from the international travel red list from 1 November, meaning travellers to the UK from those destinations will no longer have to stay in hotel quarantine for 10 days on arrival. (28 October 2021)
Scottish Government – from 4am on Sunday 31 October, people travelling to Scotland can take a lateral flow test – rather than a PCR test – on day two of their arrival. Travellers can book lateral flow tests from the list of providers on the gov.uk site from around 5pm on Friday 29 October. (26 October 2021)
Scottish Government – 47 countries will be taken off the international travel red list from 11 October. In addition, vaccine certificates from a further 37 countries will be recognised to allow quarantine-free travel to Scotland. (7 October 2021)
Scottish Government – Travellers from non-red list countries who have been fully vaccinated in a country that meets recognised standards of certifications will no longer be required to provide evidence of a negative test result before they can travel to Scotland, from 4 October. (24 September 2021)
Scottish Government – International travel restrictions to be relaxed and simplified. Green and amber classifications will merge, but the red list will be retained for those countries deemed to have high COVID19 case rates or variants of concern. The current traffic light system will end on 4 October. (17 September 2021)
Scottish Government – QR Code digital vaccination certificates for international travel available from 3 September 2021. (1 September 2021)
Scottish Government – International travellers to Scotland will be permitted to use private sector COVID tests when returning, or visiting, from green or amber list countries. The changes are expected to come into effect in early September (27 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Canada and the Azores are added to travel green list. The expanded list includes Denmark and Switzerland while Thailand goes red. (26 August 2021)
Scottish Government – research published on experiences of and compliance with self-isolation during the COVID19 pandemic. The main report can be found here. (19 August 2021)
UK Government – cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international arrivals reduced from £88 to £68 for one test and from £170 to £136 for 2. (14 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Arrivals from France to Scotland will no longer need to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated from 8 August. Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Norway move from amber to green. (05 August 2021)
Scottish Government – Fully vaccinated people from the EU and US will be able to travel to Scotland without quarantining from Monday 2 August. (28 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Fully vaccinated travellers returning to Scotland from France will still be required to self-isolate from Monday 19 July. (17 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Balearic Islands and the British Virgin Islands move to the amber travel list of countries. Bulgaria, Croatia, Hong Kong and Taiwan are added to the green list. Cuba, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sierra Leone are added to the red list. (14 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Blackburn travel restrictions lifted (7 July 2021)
Scottish Government – Manchester, Salford and Bolton travel restrictions to be lifted on 30 June (29 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Malta, Madeira, the Balearic islands and a number of Caribbean nations added to the green list for travel from 30 June. The Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Haiti, Mongolia, Tunisia and Uganda have been added to the red list. (24 June 2021)
Scottish Government – new restrictions on travel between Scotland and Manchester and Salford, coming into effect at midnight on 21 June. Restrictions that were in place on Bedford and the Republic of Ireland have been removed. (18 June 2021)
Scottish Government – Portugal placed on amber travel list (3 June 2021)
UK Government – Passenger COVID-19 Charter published, outlining passengers’ rights and responsibilities when travelling this summer. (17 May 2021)
Scottish Government – Launch of the COVID-19 vaccination status scheme. The service will provide confirmation of vaccination when required for foreign travel. (19 May 2021)
Scottish Government – From 17 May, anyone entering Scotland from countries on a new international travel ‘Green List’ will not be required to quarantine on arrival, but will have to take a PCR test for COVID-19. Countries on the green list are: Australia, Brunei, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Iceland, Israel, New Zealand, Portugal, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Singapore, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. (11 May 2021)
Scottish Government – India placed on the red list of travel countries from 04.00 on Friday 23 April. (19 April 2021)
Scottish Government – additional restrictions placed on travellers arriving in Scotland from Ethiopia, Oman, Qatar and Somalia. (19 March 2021)
Scottish Government – All arrivals to Scotland from outside the Common Travel Area must book and pay for managed isolation in quarantine hotels from 15 February 2021. All arrivals must quarantine for at least ten days and will be tested twice for the virus – once on day two and once on day eight after arrival. (9 February 2021)
UK Government – Mandatory hotel quarantine to be introduced from 15 February for anyone travelling to the UK from a country on the UK’s travel ban list (5 February 2021)
Scottish Government – additional restrictions on travellers arriving in Scotland from the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda and Burundi. The limited exemptions to isolation will not apply for these countries, and everyone else in the household of arriving passengers must also isolate. Aircraft from the UAE into Scotland is banned from 1300 on 29 January. (28 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Scottish Tourism Taskforce recommendations: Scottish Government response (20 January 2021)
Scottish Government – Travel corridors suspended (15 January 2021)
Scottish Government – additional restrictions imposed on all arrivals from South America, Portugal, Panama, Cabo Verde and the Falkland Islands. Travellers who have been in any of these countries or territories in the 10 days prior to their arrival in Scotland must isolate, along with all members of their household. No exemptions from isolation will apply. (14 January 2021)
Scottish Government – From 0400 on Friday 15 January 2021, passengers travelling to Scotland from outside the Common Travel Area must have a valid negative COVID-19 test result, taken no more than three days before the scheduled time of departure. (12 January 2021)
Scottish Government guidance on travel and transport, including information on essential travel (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance on international travel and quarantine (updated regularly)
UK Government Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office foreign travel advice (updated regularly)
Transport Scotland guidance on travelling safely (updated regularly)
Scottish Government Mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport (22 June)
Scottish Government tourism and hospitality sector guidance (updated regularly)
Scottish Government guidance for campsites, holiday parks, caravan sites, motorhome hire businesses and their users (22 July 2020)
Competition and Markets Authority open letter to all businesses involved in organising package holidays for UK consumers(10 July 2020)
Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce recommendations for supporting the tourism sector’s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (23 October 2020)
Scottish Government guidance on driving and motorcycle lessons (updated regularly)
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency guidance for driving instructors and motorcycle trainers (updated regularly)
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency guidance for driving theory tests (updated regularly)
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency guidance for driving tests (updated regularly)

Funding and Support

Scottish Government – £9 million financial package for the tourism industry to mitigate impacts of Omicron, including support for coach and tour operators, hostels, outdoor/marine businesses and visitor attractions. (12 January 2022)
Scottish Government – £12 million of funding for businesses in Level 2 areas – including those in the hospitality, events, weddings and soft play sectors, additional funding for taxi drivers and operators and £25 million to support the culture sector (2 June 2021)
Scottish Government – £3 million Destination and Sector Marketing Fund for tourism organisations to promote key visitor destinations in a responsible and sustainable way (28 May 2021)
Scottish Government – £25 million tourism recovery programme announced, including holiday voucher and day out incentive schemes (24 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Round Two of the Better Places Green Recovery Fund (19 March 2021)
Scottish Government – Taxi and Private Hire Driver Support Fund (19 January 2021)
VisitScotland Events Recovery Fund
VisitScotland summary of financial support for tourism and events businesses (updated regularly)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Constituency support – updated 1 April 2022

Where are we at April 2022?

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Where are we at April 2022?

Key Sources

Business & Industry (including business support, employment, retail, consumer rights, and utilities )

Culture & Sport

Education (including childcare)

Environment & Energy

News and guidance

Health & Social Care

Information and Guidance for patients

Information and Guidance for health and social care professionals

Funding and Support

Housing and Planning

Information and Guidance

Funding and Support

Justice

Information and Guidance

Funding and Support

Parliament & Government

Legislation

Primary Legislation

Secondary Legislation

Scottish Government Action

Scottish Parliament Action

People & Communities (including charities, third sector and volunteering)

Information and Guidance

Funding and Support

Rural Affairs

Information and Guidance

Funding and Support

Social Security

Information and Guidance

Funding and Support

Transport, Travel & Tourism

Information and Guidance

Funding and Support

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