Fans to Return to Sports Stadiums in Scotland Next Week as Country Partly Lifts COVID Restrictions
14:45 GMT 11.01.2022 (Updated: 15:19 GMT 11.01.2022)
© ANDY BUCHANANCeltic's Scottish midfielder Ewan Henderson (L) celebrates with Celtic's Scottish midfielder David Turnbull after scoring their second goal during the UEFA Europa League group G football match between Celtic and Real Betis at Celtic Park stadium in Glasgow, Scotland on December 9, 2021.
© ANDY BUCHANAN
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A limit of 500 people at outdoor events has been in place in Scotland since Boxing Day.
Fans will return to sports stadiums in Scotland next week as the country is gradually lifting some of its coronavirus-related restrictions, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says data suggests COVID cases have fallen in the past week "across all age groups", except the over 85s, and cases could be "at or close to the peak".https://t.co/F6OjyttAT2
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A limit of 500 people at outdoor events has been in place since Boxing Day.
However, limits on indoor events will remain in place until 24 January, Sturgeon said. These measures were introduced by the government in order to slow the spread of the Omicron strain of the COVID-19 infection.
According to Scottish health officials, the average daily cases in Scotland – 2,824 per one million population in the week to 6 January – were higher than in England (2,615 per one million), which actually has fewer COVID restrictions.
Sturgeon has been facing growing pressure from MPs and the wider public over the restrictions being too harsh and yet not effective enough to curb the spread of the virus. The minister argued that the restriction did help "to mitigate to some extent the impact of the Omicron wave."