Covid Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon announces vaccine passports for nightclubs and some football matches

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she wants MSPs to back plans to introduce “vaccine certificates” Scotland in a bid to halt rising Covid case numbers.

Speaking to  the Scottish Parliament she said the vaccine passports would allow entry to nightclubs and large scale events, and would be introduced later this month, “once all adults have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated”.

At a glance: 5 key points

• Vaccine passports will be required for entry to nightclubs and many large events in Scotland for later in September, Nicola Sturgeon has said. The plans will apply to indoor and outdoor events.
• The plans will need to be signed off by MSPs next week, with the new certification rules meaning people over the age of 18 will need to show proof of double vaccination before they are allowed entry to specific venues. 
• Within the plans, certification will be required for nightclubs and adult entertainment venues, unseated indoor events with more than 500 people in the audience, unseated outdoor live events with more than 4,000 people in the audience, and any event, of any nature, which has more than 10,000 people in attendance.
• The hospitality industry is not included within the plans, with Ms Sturgeon saying it would be a while, although the decision would be kept under review
• The plans arrive as a further 6,107 people have tested positive for Covid-19, with the number of people in hospital doubling in the past ten days. 

What’s been said?

In a statement at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that the certification scheme was needed to "help protect individuals and the country as a whole and reduce the risk of further restrictions being necessary".

The first minister added: "Many of the events and venues that are covered by the certification scheme are important - they matter to our economy, and to our cultural and social life.

"That’s why we want to enable them to stay open safely - but they are not essential services.

"And the nature of them - which involves bringing many people together in relatively small areas - does mean that, despite their very best efforts, they can contribute significantly to the spread of the virus."

The first minister said this was a "significant move" and would need to be signed off by MSPs, with a debate and vote to take place next week.