It is not possible to offer everyone in Scotland a choice of COVID-19 vaccine at this stage. The Scottish Government has been very clear from day one that the pace and rollout of our national vaccine programme is key to tackling the pandemic and we are determined to reach as much of the population, and in order of vulnerability based on clinical advice, as fast as the vaccine supply allows us.

Individuals with ethical concerns should contact their GP practice or local Health Board to discuss the options that might be available to them.

Agency staff who work in the NHS are included in the JCVI priority list, cohort 2. For agency and bank staff, the priority is for staff who are active in taking shifts. Staff who have not worked through agency contract in the NHS in the past 6 months would not fall into this priority group.

The Scottish Government expects to publish a response to the Social Renewal Advisory Board's report by 24 March 2021.

The evidence for schools and ELC opening up, largely focussed on transmission rates in children and adults in those environments, and appropriate mitigations to reduce risk. Parent and baby groups continue to be permitted to take place outdoors, in line with the current guidance on organised activities for children. They have a higher ratio of adults to children as part of these group activities. As such they are not likely to take place indoors until further data and evidence of the impact of transmission of the new variant in these settings is better understood.

Scottish Government recognises the importance of socialising, play and exercise for children and guidance will be kept under review and updated as necessary taking account of any further scientific or clinical advice.

1,431,942 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination in the period 8 December to 8:30 am Sunday 21 February.

It means that we have now given a first dose to almost 1/3 of the adult population.

35,479 people have received the second dose of the Covid vaccination.

You can find a further breakdown of the vaccination statistics at Coronavirus (COVID-19): daily data for Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

We still intend to offer first doses of vaccination to all the JCVI priority groups by the end of May, as our vaccine supply allows. After this initial group has been vaccinated, the rest of the population will follow.

No timetable for publication has been agreed at present. The ongoing response to the Covid-19 pandemic is the focus of our activity, and we have agreed with BMA Scotland that the final report and its important recommendations will be released when it has been fully considered.

The guidance for whole households of close contacts to self-isolate was local guidance as part of the local restrictions in place in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lanarkshire Health Board areas from 01 September to 02 November. The National Incident Management Team considered the proportionality of this measure on 24 September, and recommended that requiring entire households of close contacts was, on the balance of evidence, no longer proportionate to the risk posed. The local guidance was therefore withdrawn on 29 September in the relevant Local Authority areas in the West of Scotland.

Whole-household close contact isolation advice can still be issued if local Health Protection Teams believe this is necessary to contain an outbreak. People should always follow their local Health Protection Team’s advice – doing so is essential to breaking the chain of transmission of the virus.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many people have self-isolated as a result of local whole household isolation guidance.

The advice from Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) experts in Scotland and the UK IPC cell is that the current evidence does not support a change to the existing PPE requirements.

Evidence has shown that COVID-19 is predominantly transmitted via droplets and contact with contaminated hands or environment. Therefore, IPC guidance recommends that all health and care staff providing direct patient care should wear Type IIR Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks (FRSMs) at all times throughout their shift as they protect against droplet transmission. Airborne precautions, including the use of FFP3 respirators, are required for the medium and high-risk pathways where Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) are undertaken. However, in Scotland, following an individual risk assessment, staff can also choose to wear an FFP3 respirator when undertaking AGPs in the low-risk pathway, as set out in the Scottish COVID-19 IPC addendum for acute settings.

The guidance is continually reviewed in line with the latest evidence and advice.

The advice from Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) experts in Scotland and the UK IPC cell is that the evidence does not currently support a change to the type of PPE we currently use in response to this new strain.

The Scottish Government continues to review international research and data to ensure that IPC measures and facemask guidance for hospitals and other care settings are in line with the latest evidence and advice. We already have strong measures in place to protect patients, such as the extended use of face masks and coverings, physical distancing, risk-assessed patient care pathways, testing and the appropriate use of PPE, to minimise nosocomial transmission as far as possible. All staff should exercise the risk assessment process when donning PPE in line with the transmission-based precautions for COVID-19.

The extant IPC and PPE guidance can be accessed via the Scottish COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Addendum for Acute Settings. The guidance is continually reviewed in line with the latest evidence and advice.