pym has the latest. pcr testing has become part of everyday life, but now in england, it s not required as confirmation after a positive lateral flow test for those without symptoms. scotland, wales and northern ireland have made the change, which is because cases are spreading so fast. and because of high infection numbers, the welsh government has opted not at this stage to follow scotland and relax restrictions, including strict spectator limits at sporting events. we are in a situation where the pandemic is very much still with us. we are keeping a very close eye on the statistics that are coming in at the moment. we re hoping that we re seeing a stabilisation in those numbers. clearly, i think it will be difficult for us to dismantle things if the numbers are continuing to rise. the booster roll out is seen as a success, though the daily numbers have tailed off since the pre christmas period. so, how does the uk s position with the virus compare with other leading economies?
of cases in scotland and the rest of the uk, as our health editor hugh pym reports. there have been empty football stadiums in scotland since boxing day, with major matches postponed because of government imposed rules. but not for much longer, with an easing of the restrictions from next week and fans required to show vaccine passports or proof of a negative test. the attendance limit of 500 at large scale outdoor events will be lifted from monday 17th january. that means, for example, that spectators will be permitted again at major outdoor sporting events, including football fixtures scheduled for early next week and the forthcoming six nations rugby matches. but it s not the same story in wales, where the government has opted not to relax restrictions at this stage, including strict spectator limits at sporting events.