Question reference: S6W-02717
- Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 2 September 2021
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 2 September 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 legislation in place.
Answer
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 require Scottish Ministers to review the requirements at least once every 21 days. This review took place on 24 August 2021 where it was agreed that the existing Covid-19 requirements be retained for a further three weeks, and will be subject to review at that time.
As part of that ongoing review we have made a very minor amendment to the principal regulations to enable performers to perform or rehearse for a performance without face coverings in situations on stage where the wearing of a face covering is not possible, and distancing or partitioning is not possible. This exemption will only apply in situations where there is either a partition or a distance of at least one metre between performers and other people (including the audience) but that does not include people who are performing or rehearsing with the performers or assisting with the performance or rehearsal. Scottish Government will publish guidance to supplement these regulations.
The Regulations have been published at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ssi/2021/299 .