POST Online Media Lite Edition



 

Scotland to lift Omicron measures

Christian Fernsby |
Additional measures aimed at stemming the spread of the Omicron variant whilst the vaccination booster programme took effect are to be lifted.

Article continues below



Topics: SCOTLAND   

From 05:00 Monday 24 January, restrictions including one metre physical distancing in hospitality and leisure settings and table service in hospitality venues will not be required and attendance limits at indoor events will be removed. Non-professional indoor contact sports will also resume.

Nightclubs can reopen and whilst the Covid certification scheme will not be extended at this stage, regulations will be updated to ensure venues cannot avoid the scheme by putting tables on dancefloors whilst still allowing dancing.

People will continue to be asked to work from home whenever possible, with employers asked to facilitate this. However, the Government will engage with businesses now about a return to a more hybrid approach from the start of February if case numbers continue to decline.

The guidance to keep social interaction at home and in indoor public places to a maximum of three households is also being lifted but given case numbers remain high, the public are being asked to be cautious and to limit contacts where possible, in addition to taking lateral flow tests before meeting people from other households.

Further baseline measures including a requirement to collect customer details in hospitality settings, the use of face coverings in public places and on public transport in addition to the current Covid certification scheme will remain in place to limit the spread of Omicron and reduce pressure on essential services.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Because of the vaccination programme, and the efforts we have all made to curb transmission, our position is not as difficult as feared back in December. That is why we were able to lift the limits on outdoor events yesterday [January 17] and why we are lifting other restrictions from next Monday.

“We are still in a very challenging position and the NHS remains under significant pressure, with the number of Covid cases still exceptionally high. Although we can be cautiously optimistic about our current position, we all still need to play our part in helping to slow the spread of the virus.

“The key ways in which all of us can do that include getting vaccinated as soon as you can, limiting and prioritising contacts that matter the most to you and taking lateral flow tests when you are planning to see other people.

“All of this makes a difference and is the reason why we have been able to start lifting restrictions and can look ahead to a much better spring and summer.”


What to read next

Nigeria to be added to UK travel red list from 6 December
12,000 people gather in Aberdeen to demand Scotland's freedom from UK
Cyprus imposes further restrictions on travelers from UK

Flooding lingers in Florida; gusty winds bring critical fire weather to Great Lakes

 
Predominant upper-level ridging stretching from the Southwest to the southern High Plains will allow for another day of record-breaking heat across parts of Nevada and Arizona today.
 
 

Latest

U.S. rigs down to 586
Maine delegation concludes productive visit to Norway
Kingspan Group to open operations in Allegany County, Maryland
Afton Scientific to expand biopharmaceutical facility in Albemarle County, create hundreds of jobs

NEWS

Montreal port dockworkers begin overtime strike

Strong storm impacting portions of Alaska
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on trial for alleged EU funds misuse
Former Singaporean minister sentenced to 12 months in prison
New York City mayor Eric Adams charged with bribery and wire fraud
U.S.: Heat and fire weather concerns for center of nation; coastal impacts across east
 

BUSINESS

£24 billion worth of investment secured, thousands of jobs in energy sector to be created across UK

Swiss firms attach great importance to cash
U.S. drilling rigs fall by 2 to 583, says Baker Hughes survey
Uganda’s largest power project inaugurated
£200 million rail manufacturing factory in Goole opened
Canada adds 7 rigs, U.S. count down slightly
 

Trending Now

Ryanair: Irish ministers should resign over idiotic traffic restiction

£24 billion worth of investment secured, thousands of jobs in energy sector to be created across UK

Maine delegation concludes productive visit to Norway

Sibanye-Stillwater liable to pay Appian $1.2 billion for scrapped mine deals


POLITICS

Zambia, China sign MoU to establish African nation's first cholera vaccine plant

Turkey imposes anti-dumping duties on steel imports from China, Russia, India, Japan
Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase to $16.35 on January 1, 2025
European Commission sues Poland for lack of tax on international companies
Denmark, Spain refered to Court of Justice over rules on inland navigation, third-country certificates
£1bn investment secures over 300 jobs in North Wales
 

Today We Recommend

Swiss firms attach great importance to cash


Highlights 

Kingspan Group to open operations in Allegany County, Maryland

Afton Scientific to expand biopharmaceutical facility in Albemarle County, create hundreds of jobs

North Carolina: Weatherby Healthcare expands to Wake County with 155 new jobs


COMPANIES

North Carolina: Weatherby Healthcare expands to Wake County with 155 new jobs

Ryanair: Irish ministers should resign over idiotic traffic restiction
Sibanye-Stillwater liable to pay Appian $1.2 billion for scrapped mine deals
Johnson & Johnson will create 420 jobs in Wilson County, North Carolina
Saab will create 70 good-paying jobs in Grayling Township, Michigan
Microsoft announces 4.3 bln euros investment for AI, cloud-based data centers in Italy
 

CAREERS

Ethypharm appoints Éric Chevalier as group human resources director

Exothera appoints Cedric Volanti as CEO
African Development Bank appoints director of special operations in President’s Cabinet
Norgine appoints new CEO Janneke van der Kamp
Satu Rautavalta new VP, business area air technology at Dacke Industri
Glenn Fishwick joins CSL Group as chief technology officer
 

ECONOMY

Fraser Institute: Canada’s debt ranking falls from best in G7 to 7th worst

Kuwait reports $5.2 bln budget deficit in FY 2023-24
Eurozone reports modest Q1 GDP growth, stable annual inflation
Italy sees faster economic growth in Q1
Slovenia's economy expected to grow 0.9 pct in Q1
Italy faces deficit infringement procedure
 

EARNINGS

Ericsson Q2 sales down but North America up

Lockton revenue $3.55 billion
Motorcar Parts of America Q4 sales $189.5 million
Limoneira Q2 revenue $44.6 million
Lululemon athletica Q1 revenue increased 10% to $2.2 billion
PVH Q1 GAAP EBIT $205 million
 

OP-ED

Micromanaging is the worst enemy of efficiency and teamwork

Niger set to monetize massive gas reserves through Saharan natural gas pipeline
Putting the brakes on EV folly that choked the market
Oil discovery in Kavango Basin may mean huge benefits for Namibians
Cape Town and Dubai battle over Africa's energy future
Is America going to lose its superpower status?
 

AGRIFISH

Moldova starts exporting poultry to EU as part of 1.8 billion euro plan to access European market

€1 billion Italian State aid scheme to support farmers affected by floods and landslides
Hong Kong suspends import of poultry meat and products from areas in Hungary and Italy
Sweden declared free from African swine fever
EU proposes €120m support to farmers affected by weather events in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania
Namibia signs deal with China to boost small livestock exports
 

LEADERSHIP

Employers prefer younger job candidates for AI roles although experienced workers perform same or better

Study finds workers misjudge wage markets
Some organizations may need to expand their hierarchical structures earlier than others
Study finds there's right way and wrong way to deliver negative feedback in workplace
Allyship is critical and its needs appreciation
Generating 'buzz' about new products can influence their success
 

CRIME

SEC charges Keurig with making inaccurate statements regarding recyclability of K-Cup beverage pod

SEC charges John Deere with FCPA violations for subsidiary’s role in Thai bribery scheme
AG Bonta secures $3.9 million settlement with cryptocurrency company Robinhood
Italy issues $6.4 million fine over Chinese cars badged as Italian
EU Commission fines Mondelēz €337.5 million for cross-border trade restrictions
HSBC pays penalties for alleged breaches of Consumer Data Right rules
 

Magazine

TRAVEL

Radisson Hotel Group debuts in the heart of Tunisia’s capital city, Tunis

Morocco’s first Radisson branded hotel opens in Casablanca
Buna channels, an unreal and beautiful part of Bosnia and Herzegovina
JW Marriott unveils Mindful Haven with opening of JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi
Sotheby's Sports Week returns with fantastic artifacts
Red Roof properties open in Michigan
 

SEA, LAND, AIR

Citroën C3 Aircross, the most affordable compact SUV with 7 seats

2025 Chevrolet Equinox stands apart with fresh looks and capability
Hill Helicopters HX50, luxury in the sky
Opel Movano becomes fully equipped camper van
Porsche Panamera, new hybrid variants
Dodge Charger, 670 horsepower of electric
 

DESIGN

Cold night, hot fire pit, cool entertainment

Embellish your home with PVC panels
You'll have to hurry if you want one of 20 new Louis Vuitton watches
Luxury duvet looks good, fells good and keeps you healthy
Vacheron Constantin, watches for life and more
Schüller kitchens, where functionality marries design
 

GADGETS

MESA/Boogie Celebrates 40-year partnership with John Petrucci

reMarkable 2, monochrome tablet for your thoughts and your eyes
OnePlus Ace 3V, first with Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, flagship with a reason
Samsung Galaxy S24 is photography powerhouse
Casette tapes are making a big comeback, and so are portable players
 

HEALTH

Rwanda restricts gatherings amid Marburg virus outbreak, to begin trials of vaccine

Teksas Attorney General reaches settlement in first-of-its-kind healthcare generative AI investigation
Potentially deadly fungal disease spreading in California
First mpox vaccines arrive in Africa
WHO declares mpox public health emergency, Sweden and Pakistan confirm first case outside Africa
Kenya confirms its first mpox case as virus spreads in Africa
 

MEANTIME

Exoplanet-hunting telescope to begin search for another Earth in 2026

India to build first phase of its own space station by 2028
Roscosmos chief approves schedule of creating Russian orbital station through 2033
Potentially habitable 'exo-Venus' with Earth-like temperature discovered
Rare species of wild bees discovered in Berlin
SLAC completes construction of largest digital camera ever built for astronomy