Nicola Sturgeon said vaccine certification is becoming the common response to rising cases of Covid 19.

MSPs are due to vote tomorrow on the Scottish Government plan to introduce them for nightclubs and outdoor events, like some football matches.

The First Minister said the plans for Scotland would be "limited, targeted and proportionate."

She said she will publish a paper "setting out how the scheme will operate" ahead of the debate.

 

Sturgeon said: "Covid certificates have already been introduced by several governments across Europe and many have gone further. Covid certification is becoming a common response."

The First Minister said some form of action was needed to respond to rising case numbers.

Sturgeon added: "Neither we nor any other country has the luxury of doing nothing.

"Covid certification is a reasonable response and a much more proportionate response than some of the alternatives.

"It will not eradicate transmission but will help to reduce it.

"We believe, as has been seen in France, it will help encourage take up of the vaccine.

"It will allow certain venues to continue to operate when cases are rising."

Scotland is, The First Minister said, still experiencing a surge in cases, although she added the rate of increase may now be slowing down.

Sturgeon said cases are still rising week on week and at the highest levels since the start of the pandemic.

 

And she again said re-imposing some restrictions cannot be ruled out.

She added: "We must continue to monitor the situation closely and be prepared, as any responsible government should, to take any targeted action necessary."

The latest statistics showed there were 5810 positive cases yesterday, 10.8% of all tests carried out.

There were 883 people in hospital, with covid, up 78, and 82 patients were  in intensive care, up by 5.

Another 17 deaths were registered yesterday. The total number of deaths is now 8198.