24 November 2021

Today the First Minister delivered a statement to Parliament where she confirmed that Cabinet had decided to retain all of the remaining legal COVID protections - such as the requirement to wear face coverings.

 The COVID certification scheme will remain in place for a further period and from 6 December, people attending venues covered by the scheme will be given the option of providing a recent negative lateral flow test for the virus, as an alternative to proof of vaccination.

Cabinet also considered the possible extension of the scheme to a wider range of premises and decided against doing so due to the impact on the operation of businesses. The First Minister stressed that this was a finely balanced decision and if the situation deteriorates, extending COVID certification may be a more proportionate alternative to the re-introduction of more restrictions.

Applications for the Business Ventilation Fund are now open until 31 March 2022 or when funds are exhausted – whichever occurs first. More information, including eligibility, is available on the updated Find Business Support website.

The first round of grants from the Scotland Loves Local (SLL) Fund are being distributed.  Over 100 organisations have received a £1.5 million funding boost to help revitalise cities, town centres and neighbourhoods across Scotland.

 Guidance for businesses and workplaces on reducing the risk of COVID-19 and supporting staff and customers has been published


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