Nicola Sturgeon says she didn't know positive virus patients were sent to care homes until August

Prime Minister said there is "a very good discussion going on" with the devolved governments over the length of the festive break. Earlier on Monday Nicola Sturgeon said she wants to see only “a small number of households” to meet up over “a small number of days” over the festive period amid fears that looser restrictions will lead to a higher number of infections.

Hogmanay parties next month.The First Minister said today the New Year period was not part of the four-nations discussions on how to ease lockdown restrictions in late December.The focus would instead be on allowing people to meet indoors in small numbers around Christmas.The SNP leader said when it came to relaxing the rules next month, ministers "couldn't do everything" and warned a ban on indoor household gatherings could be back in place by Hogmanay.Speaking at her daily media briefing in

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.New weekly coronavirus cases in Lanarkshire increased slightly last week for the first time in a month.At her daily press briefing in Edinburgh on Monday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed there had been 190 new cases in Lanarkshire on Sunday.As a result, last week there were 1586 new Covid-19 cases in the region - a four per cent increase on the previous week.Case numbers had fallen in each of the

coronavirus  death toll has hit 3,459, the  Scottish Government  confirmed today.

Linzi Page 's holiday is legally exempt from a travel ban that comes into force tomorrow.Linzi, who has stage 4 bowel cancer, made a plea to the First Minister in an email last night.Legal travel restrictions will come into force on Friday for people who live in tiers 3 and 4.Leaving these areas will be a breach of the law unless the trip is “essential”.However, while international travel is allowed, in many cases it will be unlawful for people to travel to an airport in level 3 or 4.We told how

East Kilbride councillor who is monitoring the success of the UK Government’s pilot testing scheme in Liverpool.

East Kilbride will be limiting access to essential stores only from Friday as Lanarkshire moves to a level four lockdown. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the tighter restrictions across the region yesterday (Tuesday) in a briefing to the Scottish Parliament.The new restrictions will come into place from Friday and will be in place for three weeks, lifting on December 11.It follows access being restricted during the first lockdown in March.

East Kilbride say they fear for their future with Lanarkshire plunged into lockdown this week.

level two rules on November 24.The change depends on continued progress, but it was seen as a positive sign while Glasgow and 10 other councils were ordered into the highest level four lockdown.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the plan at the Scottish Parliament as part of the government's weekly review of the five-tier system.She said: "I am pleased to report that East Lothian and Midlothian have both seen a marked decline in infection rates – prevalence in these areas is significantly

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to keep schools open in the west of Scotland even in council areas placed at level four.The First Minister today gave her strongest indication yet that several local authorities will this week be moved into the Government's highest level of lockdown - meaning thousands of non-essential businesses will be forced to close.But both primary and high schools will stay open to ensure youngsters can still attend class.It comes as the country's biggest teaching union, the EIS,

coronavirus vaccine could be available in Scotland, she hopes people will start receiving jabs before the end of 2020 or "certainly very early next year". Her comments at the Scottish Parliament came after drugs manufacturer Pfizer revealed earlier in the week that its Covid-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing the virus.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Neil Bibby MSP has challenged the Scottish Government to hold an inquiry into covid care homes “now, not later”.The West of Scotland MSP reiterated his call for a public inquiry days after the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of the probe getting underway immediately.The motion was agreed after government officials last week told the Express that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had always committed to an

the Herald newspaper. Earlier this week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that Lanarkshire will remain in the tier 3 category, but did not rule out a move to tier 4 in the future.The Reformer reported earlier this month that teaching unions in Lanarkshire have called for a return to blended learning, with some pupils taught from home, if the case numbers worsened.

independence could help safeguard the Union.

Nicola Sturgeon has said it is “highly unlikely” she will tomorrow announce a significant easing of covid restrictions for any part of the country.She said Scotland is in a “far better” position than it was, but noted there still needed to be a big decline in cases.However, she did not rule out tougher restrictions for some areas.The Scottish Government recently announced a five-tier system of restrictions for the country’s local authority areas.The first weekly review will be announced in

Nicola Sturgeon has said she would be breaching the Ministerial code if she handed over her Government’s legal advice in the Alex Salmond case.

Nicola Sturgeon has said the Government is looking at making travel restrictions mandatory.

hospitality premises will be able open across the central belt during the day under changes announced by Nicola Sturgeon.The controversial definition of a cafe is being removed by the Scottish Government, after a backlash, meaning all premises can operate in the day up to 6pm without selling alcohol.At level 2, which currently covers the rest of Scotland, hospitality premises can sell alcohol indoors with a main meal up to 8pm instead of 6pm, allowing scope for evening meals.Hotels and other

Perthshire MSP has criticised the first minister for being “oblivious” to what was happening in care homes across the region earlier in the coronavirus pandemic. At the weekend it was reported Nicola Sturgeon said ministers and government officials did not have information on the results of COVID-19 tests prior to patients being discharged into care homes, or where these patients were discharged before figures were published in a national newspaper in August.