Joe Pike from Sky says the four nation approach to dealing with the pandemic seems to have ended, certainly with masks in schools.

Mr Pike asks why the first minister thinks she is right and the UK government are wrong.

The first minister replies: "There is a four nations approach to Covid, We co-operate, share our thinking on things and where it is appropriate and necessary we take decisions in concert."

She points out however that health and health protection are devolved matters.

It is her duty to make decision on how to protect the Scottish people, she explains.

The first minister refuses to say she is right and someone else is wrong and refuses to criticise other government's decisions.

Image source, Getty Images

The number of patients waiting more than 12 weeks for hospital treatment increased hugely over lockdown as the NHS was placed on an emergency footing to prepare for a rise in Covid-19 patients.

The BBC's Jamie McIvor asks chief medical officer Gregor Smith how worried he is about the indirect effect of Covid on public health.

Dr Smith says they have been working with clinicians to make sure those with the most urgent need were prioritised.

He called on patients who were worried about their condition to get in contact with their doctor.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Scotland's Jamie McIvor asks what measures are being taken to make sure school pupils wear face covering correctly?

The first minister replies that she does not underestimate the difficulties for everyone in getting used to living in different ways.

"That is incredibly difficult for young people, who do not want to have their lives inhibited by face coverings," she said.

Ms Sturgeon says she will address this by providing as clear guidance as possible but schools have a role to play in helping young people understand when they should be wearing face coverings and how they should be doing that appropriately.

Ms Sturgeon points out face coverings are not a substitute for all the other safety measures pupils should follow.

The first minister points out good hand hygiene, regular cleaning and where possible in schools physical distancing remains crucially important.

She points out when people are indoors no more than eight people from a maximum of three households should be meeting up

Nicola Sturgeon 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

The first minister says all of the changes to face covering guidance will apply from Monday.

Schools will be expected to supply clear instructions to pupils before then, adds Ms Sturgeon.

She explains the government will work with local authorities to ensure schools have supplies of face coverings to ensure no child is disadvantaged.

The first minister points out there are exemptions for people with breathing difficulties or certain disabilities.

Schools must discuss that with pupils and families, she says, adding nobody should be stigmatised because they cannot wear a face covering.

The first minister says the advisory group has recommended changes to the current guidance on face coverings in schools.

Ms Sturgeon explains the government has agreed the changes proposed, but stresses the current guidance on face coverings remains also.

There are two new additions to the guidance:

• in secondary schools, by adults and all pupils moving around the school, such as in corridors and communal areas where physical distancing is difficult to maintain
• on dedicated school transport by all children aged five and over, bringing it into line with guidance for public transport

Detailed guidance is being published on the Scottish government website, external.

The first minister reminds everyone to only book a test if you have one of the Covid symptoms

• a new persistent cough
• a fever

• or a loss of or change in your sense of taste or smell

The exceptions are if you are advised to do so by Test and Protect or if you work in a profession such as teaching.

• Test and Protect, external: If you have Covid-19 symptoms go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon says there will be an increase in the number of tests that can be carried out at the regional testing centres across the country.

Additional NHS capacity will also be utilised with, for example, drive-through areas being used by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, she adds.

"We are also establishing 11 local walk-through testing centres."

The first of these will be housed in the Victory Memorial Hall in St Andrews.

They will help increase sampling capacity by more than 3,000 tests a day.

The first minister turns to the issue of testing capacity explaining there are contingency plans being activated to deal with the surge in demand.

Three mobile testing units will be deployed across the central belt of Scotland, she annunces.

The first of these will be operational in Glasgow this afternoon, adds Ms Sturgeon.

The other two will be operational later this week and in total will increase capacity by about 1,200-1,500 tests a day.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon turns to issues people have been having with booking tests.

She explains that over the weekend there was a "major spike" in demand for testing.

That led to some constraints on the booking portal and a surge of calls to the Scottish helpline, she says.

The first minister says technical issues, causing people to be offered a test out with Scotland, are being resolved.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister turns to the growing number of cases of Covid-19 that have been confirmed among pupils and staff at Scottish schools - find out where here.

Ms Sturgeon explains the health protection teams are dealing with all of these cases locally.

She stresses: "We are not unduly concerned about any of these situations right at this moment.

"That said we're not complacent either."

Ms Sturgeon says as of yesterday there were 152 positive cases linked to the 2 Sisters food processing plant in Coupar Angus.

The first minister expects these numbers to rise in the days to come.

She stresses there is still no evidence of wider community transmission.

Image source, PA Media

The first minister says in Aberdeen there are 261 cases associated with the pubs cluster.

That's an increase in two since yesterday.

Ms Sturgeon says these figures point to the general good progress being made in containing this outbreak.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms 19.921 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 44 from yesterday.

That’s 0.8% of those that were newly tested yesterday.

The provisional information shows seven of the new cases are in Tayside where the 2 Sisters food processing cluster is.

243 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case (down five), with one being treated in intensive care.

No deaths were registered in the last 24 hours of people who tested positive, meaning the total remains at 2,492.

The Scottish government daily coronavirus briefing will be led by Nicola Sturgeon shortly, beginning at 12.15pm.

The first minister will be joined by Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith.

The issues likely to dominate today's briefing are the decision to ask high school pupils to wear face coverings from 31 August and the issues around testing in Scotland.

The first minister will also provide an update on all the major clusters of cases around the country.

Guidance for pupils and staff on the use of face coverings in schools and on school transport has been updated.

In light of the latest scientific and public health advice, including World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, face coverings should now (unless exemptions apply) be worn:

• in secondary schools, by adults and all pupils moving around the school, such as in corridors and communal areas where physical distancing is difficult to maintain
• on dedicated school transport by all children aged five and over, bringing it into line with guidance for public transport

Detailed guidance will be published on the Scottish government website, external later this afternoon.