Go with the
Yousaf backs home testing before tucking into the turkey
PEOPLE across Scotland should continue with their Christmas plans but “make them safer”, Scotland’s health secretary has said.
Humza Yousaf said he was not going to tell people not to invite their gran for Christmas dinner but urged them to ask people to take lateral flow tests before arrival amid concern about the new Omicron variant.
Scotland recorded one coronavirus-linked death and 2067 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data released yesterday, including a total of 18 new Omicron cases.
Yousaf told Radio Scotland’s The Sunday Show: “You don’t have to cancel your [Christmas] plans but definitely make them safer. That’s what I’m going to do.
“Me and my constituency office are going to go to a restaurant for lunch but have all agreed that we will be doing lateral flow tests before then on the day.
“The same for Christmas dinner with my family. We’ll have my mother-in-law and some other relatives over and they’ll all be doing lateral flow devices.
“I’ll not be taking their Covid certification at the door but we’ll just be doing what we can to make our plans a bit safer.
“We’re asking people to exercise their judgment and make their Christmas plans as safe as they possibly can.”
Questioned if people should limit the numbers they invite at Christmas, he said they should take precautions but that he would not stipulate who people could have over for Christmas dinner. He said: “I’m not going to say to people that you shouldn’t invite their cousin, that you shouldn’t invite their granny to Christmas dinner. What I’m saying is – take the precautions that we’re asking you to.” He said people meeting indoors should try to ensure adequate ventilation and ask people to do lateral flow tests before arrival. He added: “Adjust your plans to make them
ADVICE
Yousaf safer but I’m not going to sit here and tell you not to invite your granny to Christmas dinner.”
Meanwhile, proof of a negative Covid-19 test will enable entry into venues and events subject to the vaccination passport scheme in Scotland from today.
Previously, those attending any event of 10,000 or more people, unseated outdoor events of 4000 or more and indoor seated events of 500 or more – unless exempt – had to show proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The scheme also applies to clubs, defined as late-night premises with music and a dancefloor, which serve alcohol at any point between midnight and 5am.
From 5am today people will be able to show a record of a negative test – either from a lateral flow device (LFD) or PCR – in the past 24 hours to gain entry as alternative to proof of vaccination.
People can show an email or text message which confirms they registered a negative result with the results portal online or by phone.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “This change makes it possible for people to show proof of a negative test as an alternative to proof of vaccination.”
Tests are available free of charge at a pharmacy or test site.
The Scottish Government plans to expand sites for pick-up of free tests to places such as shopping centres, supermarkets and sports grounds.