The P&J asks if there is any evidence of a spike in infections after the busy scenes witnessed in parts of the country last weekend and if the first minister is worried about reports of the R number rising across the border in England?

Nicola Sturgeon replies that it is a concern to the whole of the UK if the R number is up in certain areas.

In answer to the first part of the question, she says there are no indications yet that phase one has resulted in any increases in transmissions but adds that it would be too early to tell. That is why there is a three-week interval between review points, she repeats.

The average incubation period is 5-6 days says interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith, but he adds that it can be anywhere up to 14 days.

The first minister says she will respond shortly to a letter from the RMT union, who are asking for railway enhancement works to resume - and say they are confident that work can be done safely.

According to The Sun, the union say current restrictions are putting "hundreds of jobs at risk" and could result in major projects "going to the bin".

Nicola Sturgeon reminds us that construction projects can prepare for a return in phase one of the government route map and says she has "zero interest" in holding up any work longer than is necessary.

"I have to steer this ship forward in a way that is safe," she says.

Image source, ScotRail

Image source, VisitScotland

Michael Blackley from The Daily Mail says the quarantine rules have ended hopes for many of a holiday abroad, so he wonders if domestic holidays would be possible.

He asks about accelerating progress to phase three which allows for leisure travel beyond the local area.

“I don’t want to give people false assurances,” replies the first minister. She accepts this is frustrating but she insists the government will make changes as quickly as possible.

Image source, PA Media

Tom Martin from The Daily Express seeks the first minister’s response to calls from the Scottish Conservatives for Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to be sacked following the administrative error relating to letters to the shielded group.

“I have resisted the tendency to be in any way party political about this,” says Nicola Sturgeon, adding: “I’m going to continue to do that, because the issues we are dealing with right now are incredibly difficult but also the most serious and important that we have dealt with.”

However, she says the Scottish Tories statement about the health secretary today is “absolutely and utterly disgraceful”. She suggests the opposition party is more focused on undermining the health secretary than is it on dealing with the issues.

She insists she and Ms Freeman will remain focused on the matter at hand rather that party politics.

Image source, Getty Images

Katrine Bussey of the PA highlights some shops in Northern Ireland have started to open today, while in England shops are expected to be able to open from 15 June. She asks about a timescale for retailers in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon points to the route map for easing lockdown, which includes some movement for retailers in phase two. She reiterates her optimism about being able to move forward with some phase two steps at the next review date in 10 days’ time.

We have to take these decisions at a pace that is right for Scotland, she says.

We are not going to ask businesses to remain closed for longer than necessary she adds.

Alan Smith from Bauer want to know if routine testing for care home workers is "fully under way", as was promised last week.

"It is under way," is all the first minister will say as she repeats that she would rather wait until data from all of the nation's health boards can be published before commenting further.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says that data will be published as soon as possible and then be made available weekly to monitor progress.

Bekki Clark from Global has been in touch with a woman on the shielded list who says she feels like crying after receiving a second letter with incorrect information about dates for easing restrictions.

The first minister refers to "an administrative error in a portion of the letters" but adds that issue should have been "sorted some time ago".

Without knowing the details of the case in question, Nicola Sturgeon says she would look into it and will apologise for any of the problems.

She adds that today's update for those shielding will mean a "transition into more tailored advice" over the next few weeks.

Image source, Google

ITV Border follow up on job losses in the hotel sector, asking if the first minister thinks there is little chance of them opening up again in the near future and want to know if self catering apartments can move a bit quicker.

We have to be confident that it is safe, stresses Nicola Sturgeon, who says she is unable to give firm dates at this stage.

She repeats that if we all continue to do our best to suppress the virus, it will happen quicker.

"My heart breaks for businesses that have invested their blood sweat and tears over many years to have been hit by this," she says. "It is absolutely devastating. That's why I am so determined that we go forward at a pace that gets the economy back up and running - safely. It's a careful balance but, right now, we are going in one direction and that is forward."

STV ask what assurances the first minister can give to those working in the tourism sector.

Nicola Sturgeon says minister Fergus Ewing is liaising closely with those working in the industry about the best ways forward and stresses that she is determined to open up the market as quickly as possible but only if it is safe. “We are not doing anyone any favours if we move too quickly and allow the virus to return,” she says.

The first minister acknowledges the importance of tourism to the economy, saying it is also “important as a brand for Scotland”.

There are signs of progress in the fight against Covid-19 need safe foundation she says, saying at this stage she is optimistic about progressing to phase two on schedule, although maybe not every aspect of the route map plan.

Image source, ge

"We have lots of testing capacity right now," says the first minister in response to a question from Katie Hunter from BBC Scotland, who asks if local health boards are still having to prioritise when it comes to testing in care homes.

If any health board has concerns on resources they can reach out to the government, adds Nicola Sturgeon, who promises to publish data broken down health board by health board whenever it becomes possible.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman then says that in her recent conversation with the chief executives of all health boards there were no concerns raised about resources.

"We expect to see a more consistent approach to testing," she says.

The first minister thanks the many people helping support those shielding.

She acknowledges the support people who are living with those shielding and says most of all she wants to thank those who are shielding.

To them she says: "In the weeks ahead you will continue to be absolutely central to all of our thinking."

She concludes by reiterating the key public health guidance for all those outside the shielding group, which can be found at NHS Inform or the Scottish government website.

The first minister says from 18 June onwards the government is currently expecting anybody who is shielding will be able to go outdoors for exercise.

There will be no limit on the time allowed for this.

That does not include if you live in a nursing or residential care home, these changes do not yet apply to them.

Ms Sturgeon says people shielding should remain 2m apart and not yet participate in sport like golf or tennis and avoid meeting up with other households.

She accepts that is really hard at this stage.

Children who are shielding should not yet return to school but should remain at home, she adds.

The starting point for work is to remain at home and if you are shielding you are not expected to return to a workplace until at least the 31st of July, the first minister explains.

Employers must do everything they can to help people work from home.

The Scottish government has updated its shielding guidance available online., external

It confirms people are being asked to continue to shield until 31 July - but from 18 June, people should be able leave their homes for exercise as long as infection rates are low enough.

The first minister will confirm whether infection rates are indeed low enough at her briefing on 17 June.

The first minister explains it is likely the current guidance will be amended so that from next week those in the shielding group can go outside to exercise.

She says the current support will still be available, with more than 50,000 people in the shielding group receiving weekly free grocery boxes and 46,000 registering for priority online delivery.

The government will consider on an ongoing basis whether any further easing is possible and if shielding in its current form can be brought to an end earlier than July.

She says not everyone who is shielding faces the same risk so tools are being created to allow clinicians to look at specific conditions and at factors like age, ethnicity and location.

Once the evidence is available the government will provide specific advice for the safest way back to a more normal life, she says.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister explains to provide more tailored advice and mitigating measures for specific conditions, more clinical and scientific evidence is required.

Ms Sturgeon says the virus remains a very significant threat to those in the shielding group.

"I'm afraid therefore that our recommendation at this stage is that you should continue to shield until the 31st of July."