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Currently drivers are advised not to take the groceries inside the customers house to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. The driver delivers the groceries to the door and it is for the customer to take the crate, the bags or items inside the home to unpack. If this causes difficulties to the customer they are advised to contact the supermarket for assistance.

We are not asking people to return to full shielding as we did during the first lockdown. We are not advising people on the shielding list to stop going outside, which we know is beneficial; or, to stop going for essential shopping or medicines. The extra advice for those on the shielding list has not changed since level 4 areas went into lockdown on 5 January except in relation to going to work.

The Chief Medical Officer has advised those who cannot work from home, not to go to work for as long as the area where they live or work is in lockdown. Employers can, at their discretion, furlough people through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which has been extended until April 2021. Furlough is always a decision for employers but we strongly encourage them to do everything they can to support their employees, including through furlough where appropriate.

Some employers may offer additional financial support for employees who are off work for coronavirus-related reasons which may be set out in their terms and conditions of employment. Otherwise, people who don’t attend work for this reason may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, or other benefits.

Anyone who is worried about affording essentials or needs additional support or help, can call the free National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000. This helpline continues to provide a free-phone connection to local authorities which can provide additional support including access to food, fuel, and third sector services or volunteers.

Public health measures have been implemented at borders to minimise the risk of importation of the virus from foreign travel. This includes the requirement for travellers to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival in Scotland. This applies to all arrivals with a few limited sectoral exemptions provided for. Travellers are permitted to leave their self-isolation accommodation in limited circumstance, including on compassionate grounds such as making an end of life visit to a relative.

Adult social care staff, including social workers, who have been active for a minimum of one month between 17 March and 30 November 2020 will be eligible for the payment, including those who have since left or retired.

Staff working for a registered adult social care service or in a role supporting those registered services in a head office, for example finance and administrative staff, will be in scope of the pro rata £500 payment being made to those NHS and adult social care staff who have been employed since 17 March 2020. This includes those employed in the statutory, third and private sector.

People working in registered adult day care services will be in scope of the pro rata £500 payment being made to those NHS and adult social care staff who have been employed since 17 March 2020.

In December 2020, the Scottish Government reached an agreement with the three PFI hospital car park providers to extend the free car parking arrangements until March 2021. This extension of free parking continues to support staff and remove the barriers to our staff working with the NHS during these unprecedented times.

The Health Boards, together with the PFI providers, are currently reviewing the options for beyond that period. Parliament will be updated once these discussions have concluded, but as they are commercially sensitive negotiations we are not in a position to provide further detail at this point.

The possible extension of the agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the China Wildlife Conservation Association regarding the loan of Giant Pandas to Edinburgh Zoo and related conservation and research activities is primarily a matter for those two bodies.

The Scottish Government would of course very much welcome an extension of the agreement and will be pleased to offer the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland any support requested in facilitating discussions about future arrangements with interested parties.

The Local Authority Install Programme (LAIP) is the main delivery vehicle to provide grant funding Scotland’s local authorities to install publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charge points. This scheme has been running since 2011 with over £32 million pounds invested to provide over 1,500 publicly available charge points. It is up to each individual local authority to develop their EV charging infrastructure plans to meet the specific needs of their area and to improve and enhance the network. Since 2011, Transport Scotland has provided over £1.2 million of grant funding to the City of Edinburgh Council to roll-out publicly available EV charge points in their area.

In addition, our Switched on Towns and Cities Programme (SOTC) provides targeted funding to help Local Authorities develop and implement complementary investments in EV infrastructure. The City of Edinburgh Council was awarded £2.39 million in June 2019 to support investment in EV Infrastructure to strengthen and expand the existing network.

Information for individuals who want to offer their support as Covid-19 vaccinators can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on offering support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . Further pro-active communications are planned to signpost this guidance to regulators for onward dissemination to registrants who may be interested in working as part of the programme.

Individuals can apply for specific vaccinator roles advertised on the NHS Scotland Recruitment website, with applications routed directly to local Health Boards. We have provided all NHS Scotland boards with access to the GMC and NMC emergency registers of qualified healthcare workers, and boards have been able to recruit qualified staff that previously registered their interest via the Accelerated Recruitment Portal. Data extracted on 19 January 2020 from the Covid Vaccinations Management Tool shows that nationally boards have collectively registered approximately 7,500 vaccinators.

Offers of volunteer support, for those not wishing or qualified to undertake work as a paid vaccinator, are being coordinated via a national agreement with the British Red Cross.