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From 24 August 2020, organised full contact outdoor sport for all ages was permitted in Scotland.

We have discussed the resumption of this activity with the Scottish FA and the SPFL on a number of occasions.

This will – subject to Scottish FA guidance – allow teams at all levels to train and play. However, SPFL Premiership clubs – and some English clubs – have already been undertaking activity as they were subject to additional public health measures. We have no role in where any of these clubs choose to train.

The First Minister announced that driving lessons would resume on 24 August. Driving tests are the responsibility of the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency. We understand that car driving tests will resume in mid-September, with priority given to those who have had tests cancelled.

The use of changing rooms and showering facilities should be avoided where possible, although from the 31 August 2020 they may be made available for participants with disabilities or special needs or where required after an activity such as swimming.

Sports facility operators may open toilets for public use if they follow the guidelines outlined on the Scottish Government website Opening Public Toilets Guidelines .

For detailed facility guidance including a checklist that covers use of changing rooms, showers and toilets visit Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on the opening of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities .

Coach operators have been able to apply for financial assistance from a range of schemes including the 100% Retail Hospitality and Leisure rates relief & RHL grant support, and the small Business Grant Fund. Non-domestic rates relief also applies to eligible properties and a small number of coach companies have accessed funds from the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund. We are aware of the challenges facing the coach sector and continue to engage with them to address their needs (most recently on 20 August). We are working closely with colleagues in the UK Government to secure additional support.

From the outset, we have adopted a public health focused approach to these border health measures. The data and evidence we receive to inform our decisions on these measures comes from the Public Health England and the Joint Biomedical Centre (JBC) via the UK Government. As this data is owned by the UK Government, we are not able to publish the analysis on specific countries and why countries are or are not the exemptions list. I have written to the UK Government asking them to make the data publicly available.

Whilst we formally review these measures on a 21 day basis in Scotland, and our next review point is Monday 31 August, we are continuously keeping countries under review and where there is clear evidence that it is safe to do so, we will add further countries to the exemption list. You will be aware that this happened in the case of Estonia, who were added to our list of exempt countries on Tuesday 28 July. Likewise, if the evidence suggests an exempt country may provide an increased risk, we will not hesitate to reinstate quarantine arrangements.

There is further guidance on the border health measures here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-health-checks-at-borders/pages/overview/ .

Revised certificates will be issued to be with candidates on 8 September. The certificates will not include a note about estimates but will show the revised grades awarded under the direction to reissue awards based on teacher or lecturer judgement this year.

VisitScotland has advice on wild camping in Scotland on their website. They advise people to “avoid overcrowding by moving on to another location, if it’s already a busy spot”, and to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. If this advice is followed the risk of transmission should be low.

Wild camping by definition does not involve a fee or common/shared services and in most circumstances does not require the permission of the landowner. If no fee is involved, there is no obligation on a landowner to take contact details. Contact tracing in this setting would therefore rely on digital solutions, such as our forthcoming proximity tracing application.

The Scottish Government has created the risk assessment guidance and a supporting tool for staff across all industries. This remains under constant review and should be used by employers to support staff and by line managers to understand and carry out effective risk assessments for pregnant staff.

Existing legislation protecting pregnant women must be followed and there should be a risk assessment of each individual pregnant worker’s role and working environment. The Scottish Government endorses the guidance published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

The Scottish Government advice remains that people should continue to work from home if they can.

The guidelines are in production and will be presented to members of the Education Recovery Group within the next few weeks, subject to stakeholder consultation. As with all guidelines at the moment, there is a need to look at the overall scientific advice which is current and relevant. We are working closely with representatives of teachers and headteachers to ensure that any guidance is therefore, as up to date and helpful as possible.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority has supplied UCAS with the results and these were disseminated to universities and colleges on 20 August.