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Scotland’s Covid recovery chief John Swinney tests positive before mask rule review

Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney and justice secretary Keith Brown have both tested positive for Covid.

The government’s Covid recovery chief Mr Swinney confirmed he caught the virus after two years of avoiding infection.

It emerged on the day Nicola Sturgeon announced she is phasing out the requirement to wear masks, the last remaining protective measure still in place.

Mr Swinney wrote: “After two years of avoiding Covid-19 I tested positive this morning.

“I will be self-isolating in accordance with the rules and will try to engage with @scotparl business if I feel better than I do just now.”

Perthshire MSP Mr Swinney was given the Covid recovery brief after last May’s election as Scotland moves out of the pandemic.

Keith Brown MSP.

Replying to his tweet, SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said he had also become infected for the first time.

He wrote: “Be safe John, and hopefully you’ll be better soon.

“Like you I’ve avoided it for two years until I had a positive test this morning. Thank goodness for Zoom!”

Covid cases still high

Daily virus cases in Scotland remain high with thousands becoming infected each day.

More than 2,000 patients are in hospital with the bug, but vaccines are helping keep people out of intensive care.

Most remaining Covid measures north of the border were eased two weeks ago by the first minister.

Businesses are no longer required to take track and trace details from customers, while travel rules have been relaxed across the UK.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

In a Covid update on Wednesday, the first minister confirmed that 9,610 new cases of coronavirus had been identified in Scotland in the last 24 hours, with figures showing around one in 11 Scots are infected.

From April 4, Scots will no longer face a legal requirement to wear face masks in places of worship or while attending a marriage ceremony or civil partnerships.

Masks rules will also be converted to guidance for funeral services.

Two weeks later on April 18 the legal requirement to wear masks in shops, on public transport and in other indoor settings will also be scrapped and changed to guidance.