BBC Scotland’s Glenn Campbell asks how confident the first minister is that people will comply with longer term social distancing beyond the end of the year.

Mr Campbell also asks about additional public health measures that might be needed as restrictions are eased.

Ms Sturgeon explains the government is looking at some guidance it may want to issue on face coverings.

She says this may be added to the public health focus of “test, trace and isolate".

The first minister says: "People have complied and responded magnificently in the main."

That gets tougher going forward, but she believes people want to do the right thing.

Image source, AFP

Gary Gibbon from Channel 4 News asks whether it will only be the shielded group who will be segmented from the rest of the population. He also wonders whether it was the “wrong call” stop stop track and trace in the first place, given its importance going forward.

Nicola Sturgeon says final decisions have not been taken on how populations will or could be segmented, but she adds older people are vulnerable to this virus. There are huge issues of ethics, equity and fairness in terms of treating different parts of the population in different ways she says.

Regarding track and trace, the first minister says: “We all took the best decision we could for the best reasons as we’ve gone through this uncharted territory.”

We are not through the pandemic yet, she says, though I’m sure we will learn lessons for this for the future but no government anywhere will be declaring success or victory yet.

She emphasises contact tracing will be a key part of the approach going forward.

James Matthews from Sky says the first minister has put "test, trace and isolate" at the heart of the strategy today.

He asks where we are in terms of testing.

Ms Sturgeon answers that yesterday 2,000 tests were carried out and by the end of April the capacity should be 3,500 and beyond.

She says moving into the new phase is on a much bigger scale but the work is under way.

Image source, Getty Images

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg wonders if, given the FM has made this announcement in order to keep the public 'in the know', is the UK government risking treating the public like children if they do not do the same?

I think we all have a responsibility and desire to be as open as we can be with the public, replies the first minister.

"This is the start of a process, the start of a conversation. There is a lot more detail that lies ahead."

She adds: "There are no absolute rights and wrongs on this."

Interim chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith, says information is being shared freely between the Scottish Covid-19 advisory group and the UK government's SAGE committee.

It is critical we continue to use the best science and evidence at this time, he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says work to increase testing capacity will become increasingly important.

We must also continue to focus on preventing transmission, particularly in hospitals and care homes she adds.

Making the transition out of lockdown in whatever way and at whatever pace will continue to have challenges in order to stop cases becoming outbreaks and outbreaks becoming epidemics, Ms Freeman states.

She says efforts will continue to ensure staff have the correct PPE.

Nicola Sturgeon says that with "openness", it will be possible to navigate a way through the pandemic.

She calls on the public to look at the framework publication.

The first minister also calls on the public to stick with the current lockdown rules.

She accepts "this is tough" and adds that she can't promise it will get a whole lot easier soon.

The first minister says that if we keep doing the right things "I do believe there will be a way through and we will find that way through".

Ms Sturgeon points out steps will be small and slow and restrictions may have to be reimposed from time to time.

Balances must be struck, with only the businesses that can ensure social distancing being reopened, she explains.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says similarly with schools, there may have to be a degree of redesign, with not all pupils returning at once

"Big gatherings and events are likely to be off for some months to come."

She says it is likely some form of shielding will be required for the old and vulnerable for some time to come.

Testing, tracing and isolation will be the approach being taken next, she says.

Ms Sturgeon says it is the severity of the restrictions that will control the virus, but it will not have gone away.

The real risk is that when they are eased, the virus runs rampant again.

"So a return to normal as we knew it is not on the cards in the near future."

She says the Scottish government is seeking a new normal to keep the virus under control, with social distancing a fact of life for some time to come, possibly for the rest of the year and maybe beyond.

The first minister says the assumption that it is safe for some parts of society to get the virus is not part of the approach being taken.

"We are increasingly confident that measures we are taking now are suppressing the virus."

She says the key factor is the Reproduction Rate, the "R number" which needs to be as far below one as possible.

Before lockdown it was above three, with everyone infecting more than three people.

The best estimate now is that it is somewhere between 0.6 and one, she adds, saying it is probably still higher in care homes.

She says we can't be sure about this and further data must be developed.

The first minister pledges to share the Scottish government's thinking on an ongoing basis.

Ms Sturgeon says the lockdown measures are saving lives but also doing damage and this may lead to poorer health outcomes and deaths.

"We must try to find a better balance than the one we have now."

However continuing to suppress Covid-19 is the central objective in the paper today, she stresses.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says: "We are in uncharted territories".

This means decisions will be adapted as we go forward and of course the government wants to ease restrictions as soon as possible.

However, she cannot rule out having to reapply some of the restrictions in the future - if there is evidence the virus is again running out of control.

This paper is "the start of a process".

She says in the coming weeks this framework "will evolve into a detailed plan".

The first minister turns to the framework document for leaving the lockdown , externalwhich has just been published.

COVID-19: A Framework for Decision-Making - reflects on the ongoing period of lockdown and outlines how the Scottish government will determine the steps required to constrain the spread of the virus while minimising overall harm to health, society and the economy.

Ms Sturgeon says it outlines the decisions that will need to be taken to restore a "semblance of normality" to our lives.

This is a "first cut by necessity", she adds, pointing out she wants to start an adult conversation with the public about these complex issues.

She says these decisions will be informed by the best scientific advice available.

The Scottish government has published its framework for decision-making on lockdown., external

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 9,409 people have tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 371 from yesterday.

1,748 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down 28), with 148 being treated in intensive care (down 7).

A further 58 people have died with coronavirus, taking the total to 1,120 deaths in Scotland.

Image source, bbc

Nicola Sturgeon will shortly outline the framework outlining her strategy for a planned future exit from the lockdown.

The first minister will also update journalists on the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Scotland.

This is the fifth week people's movements have been restricted in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The framework document will set out the parameters which the first minister will eventually use to judge when the lockdown could be eased.

Image source, Getty Images

Researchers are warning that rural and remote communities could suffer higher death rates from coronavirus.

The team at St Andrews university projects that there could be 80% more deaths than in main cities.

The researchers say people living in remote or rural locations may have some protection from coronavirus due to their distance from the main population centres but they warn if the virus does reach them the effects would be devastating.

Their study predicts a death rate between 50 and 80% higher compared to cities.

That’s due to the number of older people living in remote and rural communities who are at higher risk from the virus.

The study highlights southern and north west Scotland as two of the areas with vulnerable communities.

Inverness College UHI is to hold a virtual open week for potential students amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Those attending will have the opportunity to connect with lecturers from their homes from 27 April to 1 May.

The college, which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, will offer one-to-one virtual meetings with lecturers and support staff.

Applicants will also be able to access a 360% virtual tour of the college’s main campus, find out about the range of courses starting this September and learn more about applying, funding available, and student support.

Lunchtime Live
BBC Radio Scotland

Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live will begin at noon:

• Nicola Sturgeon will set out her strategy for exiting the coronavirus lockdown
• pubs and restaurants say keeping social distancing for the rest of the year will have a catastrophic effect on trade
• and its going to be another night in for us all - the programme previews the Big Night In