COVID PUB PASSPORTS TO SAVE CHRISTMAS

Swinney warns of new restrictions amid fears spread of virus may hit festive season

- PAUL HUTCHEON

COVID passports for pubs and restaurants may be needed to save a traditional family Christmas.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney described current infection levels as “concerningly high”. And he warned that to protect festivities, “we may need to extend the Covid certification scheme”.

Claus for concern

Swinney warns pub passports may be needed to stem high rate of Covid infections and prevent Xmas restrictions

A TOTAL of 20 more people have died in Scotland from coronavirus, it was announced yesterday. The latest figures show that 2233 new cases were identified overnight, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 666,880. There are 753 people in hospital with the virus, with 57 in intensive care.

DEPUTY First Minister John Swinney has hailed a new milestone in the coronavirus vaccination campaign, with more than one million Scots now having received a booster jag. A total of 1,017,359 people have been given a third dose of the vaccine. Meanwhile, 4,324,440 people have received their first dose, with 3,918,528 ver now having had two doses.

SCOTS may have to show Covid vaccine passports in pubs and restaurants due to concerningly high infection rates, John Swinney warned yesterday.

The Deputy First Minister told MSPs he may expand the scheme as he fears the deadly virus could spread “very quickly over Christmas.