Nicola Sturgeon to publish Scotland's route map out of lockdown today

Dunblane massacre will be 'forever in our hearts' as Scotland remembers the tragedy 25 years on.The First Minister took to twitter to call the day 'one of the darkest and most heartbreaking in Scotland’s history'.On March 13, 1996, crazed gunman Thomas Hamilton murdered 16 primary school children and their teacher in Dunblane, sending shockwaves of grief around the world.Hamilton then took his own life.The murder spree remains Britain's deadliest mass shootings and lead to large-scale reforms on

Scottish Parliament  the continued fall in coronavirus cases is giving grounds for "cautious optimism". The  First Minster  told MSPs that primary children will return to school next week as planned along with more senior secondary pupils.

Prestwick, South Ayrshire, gave her doting dad Jamie a dressing down over 'not washing his hands' this week.The tot's lecture was caught on camera as management consultant Jamie joked his daughter could apply to be one of the National Clinical Director Jason Leitch's understudies.Jamie, 41, wrote on social media: "Nicola Sturgeon, heard about Jason Leitch recruiting for understudies."Please find enclosed another candidate application."Little Rosie donned her bright pink stethoscope before

Scottish Parliament the continued fall in coronavirus cases is giving grounds for "cautious optimism".The First Minster told MSPs that primary children will return to school next week as planned along with more senior secondary pupils.Children in primaries 4-7 are due to join their younger classmates back in school from Monday.Ms Sturgeon also confirmed that up to four adults from two households will be able to meet outside from Friday.She spoke as the latest Covid-19 figures show 22 deaths from

First Minister is taking questions from MSPs on the coronavirus committee at Holyrood.Nicola Sturgeon is being quizzed on her handling of the pandemic and how Scotland will exit lockdown in the next couple of weeks and months.MSPs will ask Nicola Sturgeon, and Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, a number of questions on the pandemic.The meeting will take place virtually and can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.

weekly covid statement at Holyrood.The SNP leader has already confirmed that all primary school pupils will return to class as of March 15, with high school students following after the Easter holiday.Last week, Sturgeon said she hoped to announce "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 outdoors".It comes as the number of positive covid test results in Scotland continues to

Scottish Parliament on the coronavirus situation across the country.

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

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 in the last 24 hours, the Scottish Government has announced.542 new cases have been identified overnight across the country.Since the start of the pandemic, 7,164 people have lost their lives to coronavirus in Scotland while 203,012 have tested positive.A total of 784 people are being treated in hospital for the virus with 71 in intensive care.Yesterday Health Secretary Jeane Freeman marked one year since the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Scotland.She said: “During the last

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