Scotland introduces two-week grace period for venues; Turkey says it will ‘never’ close schools again despite recent rise in infections

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3.39pm BST

Sweden is offering a third dose of the Covid jab to additional groups, including people aged 80 and above, the Nordic country’s health minister said on Tuesday.

So far, a third jab has only been offered to small numbers, but health minister Lena Hallengren told a news conference this would be expanded also to those in nursing homes and were supported in assisted living systems.

3.28pm BST

Scotland will delay the enforcement of vaccine passports by introducing a two-week grace period for venues, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The scheme for nightclubs, adult entertainment venues and large capacity events will come into effect from 5am on Friday. However, venues which fail to obey the new rules will not face punishment for another 17 days.

I can therefore confirm that after the legal obligation comes into force at 5am on Friday, this week, we intend to allow a further period of slightly more than two weeks – until October 18 – before any business could face enforcement action for non-compliance.

This period – effectively a grace period – will allow businesses to test, adapt and build confidence in the practical arrangements they will need to put in place to be compliant with the scheme.

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Source: The Guardian