Paul Martin from the Daily Express asks if the first minister is worried by people not taking heed of government guidance as they return to High Street shops today.

Nicola Sturgeon replies that she has not seen anything on social media to give her concern and that there is no evidence of shoppers crowding together, as was seen in London when restrictions were eased there.

She does add that she would like to see many more people wearing face coverings though.

"Every time we ignore the rules we are giving the virus an opportunity," she explains.

Getting as close to elimination as possible provides the best and most sustainable path for the future, says the first minister in response to a question from The Scotsman.

That strategy, she argues, makes it easier to deal with future flare-ups in a targeted fashion.

Nicola Sturgeon adds that she would like the UK government to adopt the same approach but repeats that it appears to her that they are doing things slightly differently, with a focus on making sure health services are not overwhelmed.

On the issue of giving consent to air bridges, Nicola Sturgeon explains that issues of public health are devolved to a much greater extent than border controls and that is the principle she is working from.

We need to try to mitigate the risks of virus being imported again, she says, recalling how quickly it took hold in the initial phase of infections. That's why her government need to apply sound public health practice, she adds, saying again that she has not yet seen data that underpins UK decision on relaxing quarantine for visitors.

Image source, Reuters

The Press Assocation asks if there is merit in the Lib Dem proposal for face coverings to be made available at train stations and bus stops.

The first minister says she will consider any constructive suggestions and points out that some travel providers had been handing out masks when coverings became mandatory on public transport last Monday.

Nicola Sturgeon then repeats that a decision on whether or not face coverings should be mandatory in shops will come later this week.

We are not advising medical grade face masks, she says, stressing that it can be any cloth that covers the nose and mouth - as long as it is applied and cared for properly.

She also calls on people to do this now, as a matter of course. Saying all steps taken together help combat the spread of the virus, adding that she has real fears of people "dropping their guard".

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

The BBC's Glenn Campbell asks if it was a mistake for asylum seekers to relocated into hotel accommodation in Glasgow as a result of the pandemic and wonders if the first minister is satisfied with the conditions they are living in.

Nicola Sturgeon points out that these are UK government decisions and that the Scottish government has had concerns for some time about the conditions under which asylum seekers are sometimes living.

She says discussions are being held later today with the UK government to look at conditions and "ensuring that there is an improvement in conditions".

Ms Sturgeon does not want to talk about the conditions at the Glasgow hotel where an asylum seeker was shot dead and six men injured on Friday because of ongoing investigations but suggests it is "an opportunity to shine a light on conditions".

"I will continue to argue for change," she says. "But it requires a fundamental change and rethink from the home office."

Gordon Cree, from STV, refers to the suggestion at the weekend that Scotland is on its way to possibly eliminating the virus and wonders if, that continues, how close to normality that would be for the public.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says: "The closer we get to elimination, the more normality we get back and that is why it is so important to have elimination as a strategy.

"That’s why I am clear that this is our objective in Scotland. I’m less clear about whether it is the same elsewhere in the UK.

"But elimination is not eradication. Elimination gets you to a very low level of cases, but the virus won’t disappear."

Ms Sturgeon stresses that measures will still need to be taken to keep the virus "at elimination levels" and that physical distancing, hygiene and wearing of masks, for example, are likely to be required "until there is an effective vaccine".

Image source, PA

BBC Scotland's Nick Sheridan asks about air bridges and wonders if other parts of the UK have higher infection rates than Scotland, or rising rates, visitors might be required to quarantine when arriving here.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says: "Right now we have no plans to introduce quarantine for people coming to Scotland from other parts of the UK, but there is a general issue we have to consider.

"As our infection rates continue to fall, and they are falling now and I hope that continues, we have to guard against cases coming into Scotland from elsewhere. That's why we are taking time to consider the UK government proposal around air bridges for arrangements between parts of the UK and other countries.

"If we did see an ongoing divergence between Scotland and other parts of the UK, from a public health perspective, we would require to give consideration of how we mitigate that. This is not political and certainly not constitutional."

She points out that travel from one state to another in the United States have quarantine arrangements - and in Germany between lander and says she "does not rule anything out".

Image source, PA Media

"Our number one priority is that there is no return to the damaging austerity of the past," says Finance Secretary Kate Forbes as she repeats her appeal for an expansion of Scotland’s financial powers to allow it to shape its own response to the coronavirus pandemic.

She calls for the UK government to adopt "flexible fiscal rules", stressing that the strategy for economic recovery "needs to be bold and ambitious".

Earlier today, Ms Forbes launched a report titled COVID-19: UK Fiscal Path – A New Approach - and she outlines some of the proposals that she hopes Westminster will consider.

She says the recommended £80 billion stimulus package for the UK represents around 4% of the nation's GDP and points out that Germany is planning to use a similarly sized rescue package.

Among the other ideas are a temporary reduction in VAT and to move the tourism and hospitality industries onto a reduced VAT rate of 5% - down from the current 20%.

A two pence cut in employers’ National Insurance Contributions to reduce the cost of hiring staff is also suggested, along with jobs guarantee scheme for young people and the creation of a National Debt Plan.

The first minister points out optometry services and cervical cancer screening are returning. She details other services returning and of course the return of shops.

Ms Sturgeon recommends everyone wears a face covering in a shop.

The first minister stresses again people must follow the five pieces of advice in FACTS: They are:

• Face coverings in enclosed spaces
• Avoid crowded places
• Clean hands and surfaces regularly
• Two metre distancing; and
• Self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms

Image source, PA Media

Image source, REUTERS

The first minister moves on to talk about "air bridges" as the UK has made its announcement on these without any prior consultation at all with the Scottish government.

It's after Whitehall said there would be changes announced about Foreign Office guidance on essential travel, with blanket restrictions on non-essential overseas travel to be relaxed in the UK from 6 July.

Ms Sturgeon says due to the lack of consultation "we are still considering our response and our own proposals".

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf was part of a four way phone discussion with the other devolved nations and Michael Gove earlier today.

She says this is an issue where she can see the benefits of adopting a consistent approach across the UK.

However the first minister argues quarantine measures could become more important rather than less, as infection rates fall.

Anyone entering Scotland from abroad must go into quarantine for two weeks or face a £480

• UK must agree 'air bridges', warn business groups

Ms Sturgeon says central to the proposals is that the "austerity mistake of the post-financial crash period must not be repeated".

The first minister insists debt must be managed over a longer time period.

She adds she hopes the proposals will be considered carefully and seriously by the UK government.

Image source, PA Media

The first minister says the Scottish government has published a paper today that puts forward some hopefully constructive proposals for the UK can stimulate the ecnoomy.

The paper, entitled COVID-19: UK Fiscal Path – A New Approach, external, proposes a UK-wide £80 billion stimulus programme.

She says the proposal would also provide an employment guarantee for young people.

Ms Sturgeon adds the report also suggests a cut in VAT, particularly for the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The first minister adds the caveat that registration of deaths can be artificially low as it was the weekend.

However, she adds: "But there is no doubt that these recent figures demonstrate beyond any doubt how much progress Scotland has made in terms tackling Covid."

Ms Sturgeon says that is down to the efforts and sacrifices of everyone across the country.

The big challenge now is to continue that progress, while reopening more of the economy, restarting public services and seeing more family and friends, she tells the briefing.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon confirms an additional five positive cases were confirmed yesterday, taking the total to 18,241 confirmed cases.

A total of 740 patients are currently in hospital with the virus, confirmed or suspected, 38 fewer than yesterday.

There is no change in the number of confirmed cases in hospital.

A total of 10 people last night were in ICUs, three fewer than yesterday.

Since the 5 March a total of 4,051 patients who had tested positive have now been able to leave hospital.

"In the past 24 hours I am pleased to report no deaths were registered of a patient confirmed through a test as having Covid-19," the first minister added.

The total remains at 2,482.

"This is the fourth day in a row when no deaths of patients confirmed through a test have been recorded."

Image source, PA Media

Nicola Sturgeon begins by saying a few words about Friday's knife attack in Glasgow.

It reminded us that in order to protect the public our police officers so often run towards danger, she says.

"We're considering what further lessons need to be learned from what happened on Friday," she adds.

The first minister thanks all of the police officers involved with dealing with the attack and praises all the medical services.

She says her thoughts are with PC David Whyte and everyone who was harmed in the incident.