Image source, Police Scotland

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw suggests the real risk of relaxing the lockdown is that it becomes overly complicated and impossible for people to understand.

He asks the first minister what role she expects Police Scotland to perform at each stage and if much regulation of business will fall on local authorities, and wonders at their ability to manage this.

Nicola Sturgeon says that both Police Scotland and local authorities are an essential part of discussions.

She says the police will continue to have a role as Scotland moves through its post-lockdown phases, but points out that there will be a move from rules and regulations to having more guidance. There will be less legally enforceable by the police.

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw points out that employees and businesses need time to prepare for a resumption of business.

He welcomes talks that have taken place with the trade unions and construction industry, but says “many wider employer organisations claim that they have not been consulted or involved with the government” and asks the first minister to confirm that they will be part of any return to work strategy.

Nicola Sturgeon replies that the Scottish government has weekly discussions with “all the key business organisations and that will continue”.

She says the government's route map builds in time for each sector to prepare for reopening.

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Scottish Conservatives leader Jackson Carlaw suggests that, as Scotland emerges from lockdown, government communications must evolve from a direct set of instructions to a broader and nuanced schedule,

He highlights the need for clarity and asks if the first minister can provide specific advice for each sector to avoid confusion.

Nicola Sturgeon says guidance will be published in the coming days for the public and businesses, including 14 sectoral work streams, with guidance for each sector of the economy.

The first minister outlines the current public health guidance, which can be found at NHS Inform, external.

She says she understands sticking to the restrictions in the good weather is even harder, but adds by doing the right thing, all of us have helped to slow the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS, and to save lives.

"We are now able – gradually, cautiously, and in phases – to plan our move back to some normality."

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Ms Sturgeon stresses some key advice remains the same:

• for example on isolating if you have symptoms of Covid
• strict physical distancing
• washing your hands and face coverings

"We must continue to recognise that every decision we take as individuals, has an impact on others and on our collective wellbeing."

She says will be vital for all of us to continue to abide by whatever rules are in place at any particular stage.

The first minister adds: "For the moment - until 28 May - I must stress that our key public health guidance remains unchanged."

In decided when to move to the next phase, she says: "We will carry out formal reviews at least every three weeks, though I hope we can move more quickly than that if the evidence allows."

There is no change to the advice on people who are shielding, but new guidance will be available when the initial 12-week period ends on 18 June Ms Sturgeon confirms.

She announces a transport transition plan will be published on Tuesday, whiled detailed guidance for key sectors are forthcoming to ensure staff and customers remain safe.

The first minister says it is hoped the rules around funerals will be able to be relaxed when moving from phase 1 to phase 2, but they remain unchanged for now.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says:"This route map tries to sketch out with as much detail as we can provide at this stage, how, and in what stages, we might move back to some normality as we continue to live with this virus, as we are going to have to do for quite some time to come.

It does not yet set definite dates for all phases, because the virus is unpredictable she explains, adding the timing will depend on all of us.

"Our emergence from lockdown will be faster or slower, depending on the continued success that we have in suppressing the virus."

The first minister warns in the weeks ahead, messages will become more nuanced and complex, as the government tries to strike a difficult balance protecting public health and allowing personal choice.

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The first minister confirms teachers and other staff will be expected to return to schools during June to prepare classrooms for the new term.

Also in June more children will have access to critical childcare, as has been provided for the children on key workers in recent weeks.

Transition support for children starting a new school will be provided, she adds.

All schools will reopen from 11 August – but this will be a “blended model of part time in-school and part time at-home learning,” the first minister announces.

A further £30m fund for laptops will be provided to ensure children from disadvantaged backgrounds can study online.

Early years childcare will reopen over summer and childminders can reopen in phase 1 she confirms.

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The phase 1 measures are not in place yet and are dependent on the continuing suppression of the virus, says the first minister.

"I hope that they will bring some improvement to people’s wellbeing and quality of life, start to get our economy moving again and start to steer us safely towards a new normality."

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The first minister says some key community support services will resume – for example face-to-face Children’s Hearings will restart and people at risk will have more contact with social work and support services.

"We are also planning a phased resumption of aspects of the criminal justice system.

"And we will carefully and gradually resume NHS services which were paused as a result of this crisis.

"I also want to remind people that as of now, you should contact your GP, NHS 24 or 999 if you need to. That message is really important."

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Ms Sturgeon says industries that are expected to resume in phase 2 will be permitted to prepare workplaces for the safe return of workers and customers.

Outdoor retail outlets, such as garden centres, will also be allowed to reopen.

"However, non essential indoor shops, and indoor cafes, restaurants and pubs must remain closed in this first phase," say the first minister.

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The first minister continues detailing the easing of lockdown measures:

• waste and recycling services will resume
• many outdoor businesses, such as agriculture and forestry.
• the construction industry will be able to carefully implement steps 1 and 2 of its 6-step restart plan with genuine partnership with trade unions

Image source, Getty Images

"We will test anyone who has symptoms consistent with Covid-19 and ask them to isolate," she says.

Test and protect will be available in every health board in Scotland from the end of next week, she confirms.

The first minister says the government intends to move from lockdown into the first phase next Thursday. However, she says not every measure will be introduced immediately and caveats that it may be postponed depending on the evidence.

She adds the visiting inside each others' houses will not be permitted.

The first minister says the government is also publishing today a paper which sets out the methods it uses for calculating the R number – the rate at which the virus is reproducing.

"Our latest estimate is that the R number remains between 0.7 and 1. In March, it was probably above 4."

She warns against complacency saying "progress remains fragile" and it would be easy for the virus to run out of control again.

"The total number of Covid deaths – 351 last week alone – is still far too high."

The first minister adds that there is "some confidence" that the R number has been below 1 for more than three weeks, and that there has been a reduction in new cases and in the impact of the virus.

"In my judgement, therefore, the time is right to move towards a careful relaxation of lockdown restrictions."

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Nicola Sturgeon confirms 14,856 people now have tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 105 from yesterday.

1,318 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down 125). Of these:

• 909 cases are confirmed;
• 409 cases are suspected;
• and 51 patients are being treated in intensive care (down two).

A further 37 people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,221 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

She says that estimates indicate the number of people currently infected is now 25,000 and it is expected that will decrease further.

The first minister stresses the importance of high compliance with the restrictions in place, together with hand washing, cough hygiene and physical distancing, as well as wearing a face covering where appropriate.

The Test, Trace, Isolate system will require all of us to have an ongoing responsibility to protect ourselves and each other.

Image source, Getty Images