Restrictions ease as covid cases spike

The majority of covid restrictions have been scrapped – nearly two years since the pandemic hit.

From Monday, people in West Lothian and the rest of the country no longer have to give their details to hospitality venues for contract tracing and shops don’t need specific guidance for customers. However, face masks will still be required until April as cases spike thanks to the new‘stealth Omicron’strain.

In West Lothian, 2746 new cases were reported over the last seven days (up until March 18), an increase of 37.6 per cent from the previous week, which saw cases rise by over 40 per cent.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week also revealed that one in 14 people in Scotland had covid – the highest rate in the UK.

But despite this, the First Minister announced, that from this week, shops won’t need to have separate entrances and exit and floor markings indicating physical distancing, dividing screens and hand sanitiser can also be removed.

The use of QR codes and giving your details to bars, cafes and restaurants will also end and places of worship can return to normal.

And after the Easter weekend, people will no longer be required to do a lateral flow test twice a week, but those working in health, care or in schools will still be expected to test regularly.

Anyone displaying symptoms will also still be encouraged to seek a PCR test. But from the end

April all routine population-wide testing will end, including for those who have symptoms.

Contact tracing will end at this point too – although people with symptoms of respiratory illness will be advised to stay at home.

Nicola Sturgeon urged people to“be patient”and stick with face coverings a little longer.