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Nicola Sturgeon is to hold a Covid briefing this afternoon - where she will confirm whether most remaining restrictions, including compulsory mask wearing, will end on Monday.

The first minister previously said most Covid curbs which are still in place would most likely be scrapped towards the end of the month.

But some health officials have renewed calls for caution due to the infection rate rising significantly in recent weeks.

The first minister is expected to push ahead with her original plans to end the legal requirement to wear face coverings from March 21.

Mask wearing has been compulsory for Scots since the summer of 2020 and strict rules remained in place even as other measures were gradually scrapped last year.

The move would signal a significant return to normality if it goes ahead, despite thousands becoming infected each day.

While Scots would no longer be legally compelled to wear masks when using indoor spaces, individual businesses could continue to insist customers wear coverings.

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