Nicola Sturgeon confirms Scotland's lockdown to stay in place until at least March

eased this week as a result of the drop in cases.Yesterday, no new coronavirus deaths were announced.Although, figures tend to be lower at weekends, coronavirus cases have continued to drop in recent weeks, with the test positivity rate having now been below 5% for 13 days in a row.The 5% figure is used by the World Health Organisation to determine if the pandemic is under control.On Friday Sturgeon said: "I'm hopeful that next week we might be able to make some relatively minor, but I think

levels system of lockdown in Scotland wasn't effective enough to stop the rise in cases.Professor Devi Sridhar said that the method of moving the nation out of full lockdown will be gradual and data-driven in a bid to prevent a third wave of the virus.The latest figures show that no new deaths were recorded in Scotland in the last 24-hour period.

daily number of covid cases dropped to its lowest level since September.A total of 498 people received positive test results yesterday - the first time the figure has dropped below 500 in more than six months.The SNP leader is due to update the Scottish Parliament on lockdown on Tuesday - and she said there could be an announcement on "relatively minor, but important changes to the rules around our ability to meet people outdoors, and also on how young people are able to interact with friends

First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament it was revealed that 500 people had tested positive for the deadly virus in the same time period.There are currently 726 people in hospital while there are 69 patients in intensive care units across the country.Throughout FMQs Sturgeon was quizzed about her appearance at the Alex Salmond harassment committee yesterday.She was also asked about the Budget and how it will hit Scotland.As a result, Scotland is due £1.2 billion in Barnett

coronavirus cases for every local authority area in Scotland have been released health officials.

First Minister  said there was "good evidence" the national vaccination programme was already reducing the number of deaths from the virus across the country. And the SNP leader revealed the average number of covid cases being reported each day in Scotland had dropped to 657 - the lowest rate since October.

First Minister said there was "good evidence" the national vaccination programme was already reducing the number of deaths from the virus across the country.And the SNP leader revealed the average number of covid cases being reported each day in Scotland had dropped to 657 - the lowest rate since October.It means all primary school pupils will be able to return to class as of March 15 - with high schools reopening full-time after the Easter break.Sturgeon added that a further review of easing

coronavirus case number in all local authority areas in Scotland has been published by health officials.Public Health Scotland said that in the week between February 15 and 21, Scotland recorded a total of 5,736 positive cases of Covid-19 - which represents 5.0% of people tested for the virus.Scotland’s seven-day positivity rate per 100,000 population in those seven days stood at 105.0, according to the latest data.Falkirk recorded the highest number of cases per 100,000 population during this

latest plan to ease restrictions yesterday but it was criticised for not looking beyond the end of April.The UK Government's routemap out of lockdown for England claimed all social restrictions could end as early as June 21.But Sturgeon said she would be “making it up” if she gave a specific date for the end of coronavirus restrictions.Speaking at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh on Wednesday, the SNP leader questioned Johnson's June 21 date.“If I was to give you a fixed, hard and fast date

coronavirus lockdown in Scotland yesterday.The First Minister said she hoped to lift the 'Stay at Home' message on April 5 as cases and deaths across the country continue to fall.It is hoped that the reopening of the economy will start around April 26 with the return to the levels system.Sturgeon said more detail will be set out in March as the pressure on the NHS eases.It comes after it was announced that 56 people had died from coronavirus in the last 24-hour period.In that same time 655 new

Nicola Sturgeon's lockdown easing announcement today.This afternoon, the First Minister said that lockdown restrictions across Scotland should be "significantly eased" by late April.She revealed that non-essential shops, gyms, hospitality businesses and hairdressers could all reopen with social distancing measures in place if coronanvirus transmission continues to fall across the country.The existing stay at home restriction will be lifted by April 5, with people being able to meet in larger

could be back in class by March 15 with high schools fully open by April 5.But opposition MSPs and business leaders criticised today's document for lacking detail.Speaking to MSPs, Sturgeon said lockdown would ease in phases - separated by intervals of at least three weeks - culminating in the removal of the stay at home order on April 5.Scotland will move back to a regional system of restrictions by the end of that month.The rest of primary school years, as well as more senior phase pupils in

Scotland's route map out of lockdown will be revealed today as Nicola Sturgeon outlines when and how restrictions will be lifted.It follow Boris Johnson's lockdown announcement, with England's measures set out in a four-step exit strategy which will begin on March 8 and covers everything from socialising to hairdressers.Scotland's mainland has been in a full-blown lockdown for more than a month now, with non-essential shops, bars, pubs and cafes shut in a bid to curb soaring cases.The First

First Minister’s route map is expected to more cautious than Johnson’s when she confirms what order and how quickly rules will be lifted. In an optimistic statement at Westminster yesterday, the Prime Minister claimed lockdown could effectively be over in England by June 21 at the earliest.

"route map" is published.

First Minister left a four nations call with the Prime Minister and the leaders of the other devolved administrations to take part in her regular coronavirus broadcast today.With the call between the leaders coming as plans for the easing of lockdown restrictions are being unveiled, the Scottish Tories accused the First Minister of having the wrong priority.A Conservative spokesman said: “It will raise more than a few eyebrows that Nicola Sturgeon’s priority is the BBC briefing over working

Nicola Sturgeon is set to unveil Scotland's route out of lockdown this week as she outlines when and how the country will lift restrictions.The First Minister will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, where she is expected to lay out the lockdown action plan for the coming weeks and months.It is hoped a decision will be made on how Scotland will gradually return to normality, with the next steps for local lockdown levels, travel and socialising.

coronavirus in the last 24 hours.The First Minister announced that a further 685 positive cases have been detected overnight, bringing the total to 194,954.The Scottish death toll now stands at 6,885 since the start of the pandemic last March.

Nicola Sturgeon is set to give her latest lockdown update today and will review any changes to Scotland's current restrictions, including the return of schools.Scotland's mainland has been in a full-blown lockdown for more than a month now, with non-essential shops and all bars, pubs and cafes shut in a bid to curb soaring cases.The First Minister is set provide greater clarity on when restrictions might ease on Tuesday, February 16, as the vaccination roll-out gains pace.Speaking at the daily

Jeane Freeman said Scotland should hit its target of vaccinating 400,000 adults a week ahead of schedule this week - but added the programme will then “need to scale back a bit”.A drop in supply across all four UK nations is being caused by work being carried out by Pfizer – the manufacturer of one of the approved vaccines.The company is having to temporarily reduce output as part of an overall effort to increase manufacturing capacity amid worldwide demand for vaccines.Nicola Sturgeon said on