The first minister said they would no longer need places of worship, weddings and funerals from April 4, with the requirement to cover shops, schools and public transportation ending on April 18. The mask laws were supposed to be repealed earlier this month, but were retained due to the “peak” of COVID cases. Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that the laws would be guided instead. He said: “We have taken into account the very high level of infection and pressure in the NHS and the fact that face masks provide a significant layer of protection against the transmission of the virus from one person to another. “However, we are also aware that the data may now indicate a peak of this wave of infection which we hope will become more pronounced in the next two weeks. “Consequently, we have concluded, with the reservation, as always in the pandemic situation, that the legal requirement for the use of face masks will be replaced by guidance on the following phased basis.” All of Scotland’s other legal requirements for COVID were removed nine days ago, but the cover-up mandate was retained. England withdrew the face mask law in late January. Wales withdrew the requirement for a mask in stores and on public transport on Monday, but it is still mandatory in health and social care settings. Laws on face masks in Northern Ireland changed in February. People there are advised to wear one indoors, but it is not required by law. There were another 9,610 cases of COVID reported in Scotland on Wednesday, as well as 34 deaths, but the first minister said there was evidence that the increase was stabilizing. About 2,344 people are being treated for the virus in Scotland, according to the latest figures on Tuesday, slightly lower than 2,383 the day before. However, Ms Sturgeon said that number was still much higher than the previous peak – 2,053 in January 2021 – and that the recent rise in cases “put the NHS under even more serious pressure”.
