As Omicron continues to spread, the Scottish government has set out new guidance and measures to stem the flow of transmission, as well as keep businesses and services, including the housing market, open.

The guidance, welcomed by Propertmark, has been updated on reducing social interaction at home or in indoor public places to a maximum of three households at any time, with potential buyers and renters encouraged to take a lateral flow test before viewing a property.

Daryl McIntosh, policy manager at Propertymark, commented: “The measures introduced are understandable and most agents have been still adhering to previous measures. The new guidance for viewers to take lateral flow tests is logical but could be difficult to manage and it will put the onus onto agents to ensure the safety of themselves and their clients.”

Further guidance on additional measures announced by the first minister Nicola Sturgeon include:

+ Businesses, service providers and places of worship asked to take all reasonable measures to avoid crowding, encourage wearing of masks and support distancing in their premises

+ This will include guidance to ensure that people who can work from home, do so – for those in sectors where working from home is not possible, regular testing with lateral flow tests should be undertaken

+ Reinforcement of protective measures in retail and other settings including distancing, managing customer flows, and protective screens

+ Reinforcement of protective measures in hospitality settings including collection of contact tracing information and measures to reduce crowding

+ Guidance to increase mask wearing in outdoor crowded areas such as Christmas markets or festive celebrations

The Scottish government says that it remains vitally important to strictly adhere to all public health advice, being stringent around use of face coverings in all required settings, isolating for the full period when advised to, and ensuring good ventilation in spaces where households will mix.

Sturgeon said: “While we are speeding up vaccination, we must also try to slow down Omicron. That is why we are also proposing today, albeit reluctantly, some further protective measures. I am appealing to everyone to follow today’s advice, to help slow Omicron down while more of us get our boosters.”