Scotland will ditch most remaining pandemic restrictions on Aug. 9, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Sturgeon told a special session of the Scottish parliament on Aug. 3 that all nightclubs will be allowed to re-open and full capacity crowds allowed to return to sports and concert venues. Social distancing rules will end, but mask mandates for shops and public transport—which have been now lifted over the border in England—will remain in place. Sturgeon said that her government is still considering the use of vaccine passports or COVID status certification for access to some events. She said that an app is being developed to this end. The First Minister said, “I can assure Parliament that we do not underestimate the ethical, equity, and human rights issues associated with COVID-status certification and will keep members updated and consulted on our thinking on this issue.” Similar proposals by the UK government—which decides …