A UNION has hit out at today's Scottish Government announcement that some key workers may not be required to self-isolate if they are at risk of contracting Covid.

Unite the Union has slammed the move announced by Nicola Sturgeon today. The first minister announced that workers in certain sectors such as care or essential retail may be exempt from self-isolation if they have received both jabs and do regular testing.

They warn it could lead to a new spike in numbers of cases in Scotland.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon confirms changes to coronavirus self-isolation rules

James O’Connell, Unite industrial officer, warned that we can't allow numbers to spiral out of control. He added: “We understand there is a need and desire to return to normality, we have got to remember that vaccination is not immunisation.

"Unite’s members particularly in those vulnerable sectors such as health and social care are extremely worried that we could see a new spike in hospital admissions, and it is the staff on the frontline having to deal with this.

“If you're identified as a close contact it potentially takes 48 hours minimum for the virus to be detected through a test so there is a potential for staff to be asymptomatic without knowing they are positive for a period of time.

"Using the hierarchy of control risk should be removed or at least minimised as much as it can be, therefore, in order to remove or minimise the risk of spread you should isolate not gamble using health and social care staff as the test.

"They look after the most vulnerable people in our society, is it worth it?  The Government is putting a lot of emphasis on double vaccination which does not stop contraction of the virus, however, why are they not looking at reducing the time between vaccine?”