The First Minister noted that daily case numbers in Scotland had fallen by three per cent to less than 3,000 over the past week, including a 19 per cent drop among the over-60s. However, she insisted the situation was still “precarious”.

Over-40s in England had been able to book their booster vaccinations from November 15. Ms Sturgeon said “information on booking appointments will be available very soon” for Scots in that age group.

Dr Liz Cameron, the chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses and consumers will now be reassured that they can make plans over the coming weeks in the run-up to Christmas and New Year, without the fear of additional economic deterrents or vaccine certification burdens being placed on them.”

A spokesman for the Night Time Industries Association said allowing people to present a negative test instead of a passport “brings Scotland in line with other European nations, and partially alleviates at least some of the equalities and social exclusion harms that were previously the case”.

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, welcomed Ms Sturgeon’s “U-turn” on testing, but said it had occurred only after “the First Minister ignored everyone and ploughed on with a passport scheme which doesn’t drive up vaccination rates”.