• FM will not rush to lift lockdown and will not announce what measures will be removed in coming days
• however an initial "framework" on the decision-making process over relaxing restrictions will be revealed this week
• 8,450 positive cases of coronavirus are confirmed in Scotland, an increase of 263 since yesterday

• there are 12 further deaths linked to coronavirus, taking the number to 915. These are mostly hospital deaths with many hundreds more having died in community settings
• More than 41,000 food packages have been delivered, here's the national helpline for those in need: 0800 111 4000
• FM hopes £43m NHS Louisa Jordan will never be needed

• Interim CMO concerned about 72% reduction in urgent cancer referrals and calls on people with symptoms to go to their doctor
• the chief nursing officer stresses the importance of children being vaccinated

Mark McLaughlin from The Times asks if the Scottish government feels it is getting all the information it needs from Cobra, given Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said there was no consultation on a reported three-step plan to relieve lockdown measures.

Ms Sturgeon insists the government’s are working together but the Scottish government has not held back on making different decisions and it will not do so going forward.

A level of additional advice and detail is available from the Scottish COVID-19 Advisory Group, though this does not mean we will not take part in Sage or Cobra she adds.

Touching on testing, the first minister says she is focused on building up capacity and using it to the full.

Rachel Watson of the Daily Mail asks whether the pausing of screening programmes may be related to the decrease in cancer referrals.

Dr Gregor Smith explains screenings and urgent referrals are two separate pathways, with the latter coming from those who visit their GP with possible symptoms.

If people have symptoms which would normally cause them concern - like a lump, new or unusual bleeding or a change in bowel habits - they should speak to their GP he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Peterkin of the Press and Journal asks about progress on antibody tests.

Dr Gregor Smith says we are beginning to understand the body’s antibody response. He explains some antibodies have previously gone undetected because people who have had Covid-19 without significant symptoms tend to have a more delayed response in terms of antibodies showing up on tests.

There have been “some encouraging signs” on progress for testing and we continue to keep a close eye on developments he adds.

At the Scottish government press briefing Dr Gregor Smith says there has been a worrying drop in cancer referrals.

He says people are just not approaching GPs with these type of symptoms.

The interim chief medical officer says his message is simple :“Please do not sit on these symptoms .”

Christine Lavelle from The Sun asks where information on the number of virus cases in care homes is.

Ms Lavelle says information on surveillance testing has also not been forthcoming.

The first minister insists information being provided to the public must be robust, reliable and accurate.

The public will accept we have to take a bit of time to get this absolutely right, she adds.

Vivienne Aitken from The Daily Record asks about reports of 15 deaths at Crosslets Care Home in Dumbarton., external

She says despite the deaths no residents have been tested and asks if it is not time to suspend any more residents going into that home.

The first minister says she won’t comment on individual care homes, but insists the government is working hard to make sure the right action is being taken

She stresses the government is moving to testing all symptomatic residents in care homes.

Tom Martin from The Daily Express asks about council tax increases that have already taken place and asks if they are being looked at.

The first minister says nothing is ruled out at this stage and local authorities decide on council tax.

She thinks about £40m has been provided by the government to local authorities for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme to help get rebates to people in need.

Image source, Getty Images

Severin Carrell from The Guardian asks what the capacity is for testing and why it is not being reached.

The first minister replies around the current testing capacity in NHS labs is around 2,000 per day and will be 3,500 by the end of this month.

The first minister is reasonably confident capacity will go beyond that by the start of May.

Ms Sturgeon says there is still work being done to reach that capacity and details expansion of the testing regime to include more care workers for example.

The government is also trying to increase surveillance testing and she pledges to revel more detail on testing in the coming days.

Image source, Getty Images

Katrine Bussey from the Press Association seeks a reaction to reports Boris Johnson did not attend Cobra meetings on Covid-19 earlier this year and asks whether Ms Sturgeon has attended them all.

Ms Sturgeon confirms the Scottish government has attended all Cobra meetings it has been invited to, though in some cases this has been the health secretary.

She adds she has chaired all bar one of the Scottish government’s resilience team meetings since the end of January.

Image source, SNS

Chris McLaughlin from BBC Radio Scotland asks about the return of large scale sports events before a vaccine is available and the feasibility of holding them behind closed doors.

Ms Sturgeon says people should not be under the expectation that large scale mass gatherings will be starting any time soon.

She adds that even as lockdown restrictions start to lift, it is likely social distancing will continue to be necessary, perhaps up to the point where a vaccine is available.

Dr Gregor Smith adds that even holding events behind closed doors may pose some risk as people may gather elsewhere to watch them.

Ciaran Jenkins from Channel 4 asks about the number of gowns for NHS staff. The first minister says she will provide these figures later, but insists there are “adequate stocks” of PPE items in general.

Jack Foster from Global Radio seeks an update on the number of ICU beds available, including ventilator availability and staff training.

The first minister confirms ICU capacity is currently at 585 beds, with the aim of taking this to 700. This figure covers beds with the correct equipment and staff training.

She confirms there are 248 patients currently in ICU (both for Covid-19 and non-coronavirus illnesses), meaning more than 300 ICU beds are not being used.

She adds there does seem to be the start of a downward trajectory on the number of Covid-19 ICU patients, though she accept it is early and this figure may fluctuate.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter McMahon from ITV Border asks about dairy farmers and the warning some won't make it through this crisis.

"What extra help can you give them?"

The first minister pledges to talk to the NFU and particular sectors about how best to provide support.

Image source, Getty Images

Ross Govans from STV says the funeral of a former firefighter is taking place in Inverness and there will just be a handful of mourners there.

When will the restrictions on the numbers of people who can attend funerals be relaxed, he asks.

The first minister says it is not possible to underestimate how difficult these restrictions are for the bereaved.

She says it is premature to give a date on which these restrictions might be relaxed.

Peter Smith from ITV News says Denmark has announced that companies that pay out their own dividends via cash havens will not be eligible for any bailout.

The first minister says companies that don't operate in a fair way should not necessarily be able to easily access public funds.

She wants support to go to the businesses most in need.

Image source, Getty Images

James Matthews from Sky asks if testing had been begun earlier would we be closer to the end of the lockdown and would fewer people have died.

The first minister: "I don't think it is possible to answer questions like that at this stage.

"We have done at all stages what we consider to be the right and the best way of containing and then delaying and then suppressing the spread of this virus.

This has been informed by science, evidence and "our best judgement", she adds.

Image source, Getty Images

We now move to questions from the media, with the first question from the BBC's Lisa Summers.

Ms Summers asks about NHS Louisa Jordan temporary hospital and whether the £43m could have been spent on something else, like testing.

The first minister says the government is building up testing, including surveillance testing and the challenges are not a lack of money.

"I fervently hope we never have to treat any patients in the Louisa Jordan."

She says she would rather invest the money in the temporary hospital and not need it than not do so and find it was not needed.

Chief Nursing Officer Professor Fiona McQueen also highlights the NHS provides all sorts of care and attention, not just for coronavirus.

Prof McQueen says returners to the NHS are continually being deployed, while there has been an "amazing response" to calls for hospital volunteers to better support patients.

"Our health service is there and it's open for business."

Highlighting it is European Immunisation Week, she speaks of the importance of parents getting young children vaccinated - either by visiting a surgery or having a team come to homes.

Our vaccination programmes are safe and provide a foundation for a fit and healthy childhood, she adds.

Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith reiterates the "NHS is open" and ready to help those who need it.

There is "strong evidence" that there are lower numbers of urgent referrals being made for suspected cancer, he says.

"It leaves me worried that there are people out there who are not seeking help from their GP when they need it."

Don't ignore symptoms such as lumps, Dr Smith urges the public.

If it was urgent before the pandemic, it remains urgent now, he says.

The first minister says the government will set out how it will supress the virus, while outlining how, even gradually, a semblance of normal life can be returned to.

She says the factors and framework for how to do this will be set out.

The first minister says we will need to get used to living with this virus.

She thanks everyone for continuing to follow the guidance.

Ms Sturgeon says money has been provided to councils to mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable families.

The first minister stresses everything people are being asked to do is saving lives.

She says later this week she will set out more detail about the next stage in tackling the pandemic.

"I will not rush to do anything that could risk a resurgence of this virus."

As to do that would put many more lives at risk, she adds.