The Education Secretary has made clear the "absolute priority" to keep schools open amid soaring coronavirus cases as she urged pupils to test at home for the virus before heading back to classes.
With schools across Scotland returning this week, Shirley-Anne Somerville urged secondary school students to take a lateral flow test either the night before lessons start back or on the morning of their return.
With youngsters aged 12 to 15 years old now eligible for their second doses of coronavirus vaccine, pupils in this age group are also being encouraged to come forward for their jabs.Chief medical officer Professor Sir Gregor Smith stressed with the new Omicron variant of the virus spreading rapidly it is "vital that we all do what we can