Coronavirus (COVID-19): Constituency support – updated 24 December 2021

About the blog

Please note: This blog will not be updated over the Christmas period. The next update will be on Friday 7 January 2022.

The title on the post will be amended to show when updates have been made and newly added entries will be prefixed with ‘NEW!’.  Please note that the URL in the address bar remains the same (i.e. including 19 March) – this is to ensure that links are not broken and anyone who has bookmarked the page can return easily.

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are receiving a large number of enquiries relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19).  SPICe is still responding to enquiries through the usual enquiry process.

However, to aid MSPs in responding to their constituents, and for the use of anyone else who is interested, we are providing this blogpost.

The post contains links to trusted and official external sources of information 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’:

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.

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 are 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.

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

• NEW! Scottish Government – Nightclubs to close from 27 December, subject to a review after three weeks. (23 December 2021)
• NEW! 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)
• NEW! Scottish Government – one metre physical distancing to return in indoor hospitality and leisure settings from 27 December. Attendance at large events will be limited (100 people for indoor standing events, to 200 for indoor seated events, and to 500 for all outdoor events) from 26 December. (21 December 2021)
• NEW! 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)
• First UK patients given take-at-home pill. Molnupiravir will be tested on 10,000 people at risk of serious illness in research led by University of Oxford. (16 December 2021)
• Scottish Government announce the number of military staff assisting with the autumn/winter vaccination programme has been increased to support the acceleration of the booster roll-out. (15 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)
• 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 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)
• UK Government announce the UK coronavirus (COVID-19) alert level will be increased from Level 3 to Level 4. (12 December 2021)
• Scottish Government publish an evidence paper on the rise of Omicron cases and new advice to reduce the spread of the virus. From Saturday 11 December, all household contacts of any confirmed coronavirus case must isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status – even if they initially get a negative PCR test. People are also being urged to defer work Christmas parties to slow the spread of the virus. (10 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)
• 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. (4 December 2021)
• Scottish Government – confirmation of community transmission of the Omicron variant (3 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)
• JCVI issue 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 – First cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant are identified in Scotland. (29 November 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 – Scotland’s Strategic Framework update (16 November 2021)
• UK Government – The first oral antiviral for COVID-19, Lagevrio (molnupiravir), has been approved by MHRA. (4 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)
• Scottish Government publish an 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 – More than 10 million COVID-19 PCR tests have now been carried out in Scotland over the past 19 months since testing got underway. (22 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)
• Scottish Parliament approves vaccine certification plans. From Friday 1 October, Coronavirus vaccination certificates will be required to enter events such as nightclubs, music festivals and some football grounds. (9 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 – 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)
• 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 Government – Vaccine deployment plan update. (23 July 2021)
• First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces the priorities for the Scottish Government in the first 100 days, including completing the vaccination of all adults, subject to supply; establishing a cross-party steering group on COVID recovery; and publishing an NHS Recovery plan. (26 May 2021) 
• UK Chief Medical Officers issue a joint statement recommending that the UK COVID-19 alert level move from level 4 to level 3. (10 May 2021)
• MHRA – Modified COVID-19 vaccines for variants to be fast-tracked (4 March 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)

Information and Guidance

• NEW! Scottish Government  – guidance on safer businesses and workplaces (updated). (23 December 2021)
• NEW! Scottish Government – compliance self-assessment tool to help businesses assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 control measures within the workplace. (23 December 2021)
• NEW! Scottish Government – guidance on physical distancing and capacity limits in relevant premises and events. (23 December 2021)
• NEW! 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…