Image source, AFP

Ms Davidson goes on to criticize what she calls a swipe at the Chancellor and UK government, "with no recognition of the £7.2bn additional funding for Scotland, including £700m of support given at the start of October".

However, Ms Davidson says the Scottish Conservatives will give their support for this motion.

The party is asking for support of their amendment "because we believe it tackles some of the vital areas that are in the interest of all Scots as we move through the pandemic," she says.

Scottish Conservatives' Holyrood leader Ruth Davidson starts by saying the Conservatives' amendment to the framework will "build and improve the proposals on the table".

She begins by detailing where the Conservatives are in full alignment with the Scottish government's framework.

She says they are in complete agreement over "the importance of local authorities and health boards in the process, to make sure the people delivering on the ground have the earliest possible input on what they are being asked to enact."

Ms Davidson then goes on to say that the Conservatives agree with the Scottish government that keeping schools open is a priority. She says the Conservatives "have been unwavering in keeping the learning, social contact and structure of school as an imperative".

She also welcomes the launch of a Covid restriction "postcode checker" which will enable people to confirm what restrictions are in place in their area at any given time.

Image source, Reuters

The aim is to get the whole country to Level 1 and then Level 0 as quickly as possible, Nicola Sturgeon says.

Having done it once in the summer, "we can do it again but it will not be easy".

While the government has responsibility to lead, success against this virus will depend on all of us," the first minister says.

While it is difficult and more frustrating by the day as we head towards Christmas, "if we dig in now, and get Covid under more control, we perhaps open the door to not 100% normality but hopefully more than we have right now. We all want to see that."

Ms Sturgeon concludes by urging everyone to check what restrictions apply in their area from Monday, to stay out of each other’s houses and follow the rules.

She recognises people's frustration at "not being able to go to the football or out for a pint or out for a meal with friends" but says everyone "must try to remain as patient as possible".

Pubs and restaurants in many areas of Scotland will be able to serve alcohol indoors again from next week, the first minister has announced.

Nicola Sturgeon said the move would allow licensed premises in level two of the country's new five-tier system to serve alcohol with a meal until 8pm.

In level three areas - likely to be much of the central belt - they will be able to reopen but cannot serve alcohol. The new rules are expected to come into force from Monday.

Read our breaking news story here.

Ms Sturgeon continues to outline how the tiers will impact on the hospitality industry.

• Level three is broadly similar to the current restrictions which have seen only cafes open in the central belt until 18:00 to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks. But, unlike the present situation, pubs and restaurants will also be able to open to serve both food and non-alcoholic drinks
• The situation at the highest level is more clear-cut. The first minister says: "At level four, hospitality will be closed."

The first minister says that central belt areas currently under the toughest restrictions are likely to be in Level 3.

Most of the rest of the country is likely to start in Level 2.

Some exceptions are being considered. It is hoped that Highland, Moray, the Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney might go to Level 1.

Less positively, Ms Sturgeon says that the Dundee city area might go into Level 3.

She confirms that the government is also considering whether to place North and South Lanarkshire into Level 4, given the "very high" rates of transmission and hospital admissions in those areas.

There have been some encouraging signs in the last few days though, so they will only take that decision "if absolutely necessary".

Lanarkshire is the only area currently being considered for that status, Ms Sturgeon adds. She hopes to confirm all these decisions to Parliament on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister gives details of how the tier levels will affect the hospitality industry.

• At level zero, hospitality will operate "almost normally" subject to rules on physical distancing, limits on numbers and table service only.
• Level one will be similar but with a curfew closing time of 22:30 rather than 22:00.
• Level two is "broadly comparable to the restrictions in place outside the central belt, with normal operations outdoors and an early closing time. The closing time will again be extended to 22:30. At present, some premises can serve food and non-alcoholic drinks indoors only until 18:00. At level two, this will be extended to 20:00 and alcohol will be permitted with main meals.

1. Scottish government: Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do, external

2. Scottish government's current short-term restrictions, external

The challenge Scotland faces has also been set out in an evidence paper, external published by senior clinical advisors.

These short-term restrictions are now extended until 2 November

3. Download the Protect Scotland app, external from NHS Scotland

4.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

5. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.

6. Clear Your Head, external

It's ok to not feel yourself right now, here's some tips to help people through the pandemic

7. BBC Scotland articles:

·What are Scotland's new lockdown rules?

·Covid-19 in Scotland: Where are the latest cases?

·Check the Covid rules where you live

Ms Sturgeon tells MSPs that level four "resembles something closer to a full lockdown" and would see the closure, for example, of non-essential shops.

She adds levels two and three will be deployed only for short periods of time, while level four will only be introduced if "absolutely necessary".

Ms Sturgeon says it would be a "short, sharp intervention to address extremely high transmission rates".

She adds: "Under all five levels, we want schools and childcare to remain open if at all possible."

The first minister says levels one, two and three are intended to be "broadly comparable, albeit not identical" to those deployed in England.

She adds level zero is is similar to the state of affairs in August when virus levels were repressed to low levels.

Ms Sturgeon says: "We consider this the closest we can get to normality without better treatment or a vaccine for Covid."

She tells MSPs level one is similar to the restrictions Scotland had in September as cases started to rise again.

Ms Sturgeon adds: "Our objective is to get all parts of the country to level zero and remain there if we can."

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister stresses the importance of "flexibility" under the new system.

And she confirms the detail will be kept under review as the system develops.

Ms Sturgeon says: "This may be particularly important for the hospitality industry."

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says all countries must balance the public health impact of the virus with its impact on the economy.

She adds that having five levels means the government can avoid a "one-size-fits-all approach".

This will enable parts of the country with lower transmission rates to live with fewer restrictions than those with higher transmission rates.

Ms Sturgeon acknowledges this approach will make public messages "more complex".

But to overcome, this she announces the Scottish government will launch a new postcode checker which will enable people to confirm what restrictions are available in their area at any given time.

A rise in cases is part of an international pattern across the world, and many countries in Europe face a much more serious situation than Scotland, says the first minister, which is why the government is "acting firmly" now.

The positive news is that the government believes restrictions on household gatherings may be having an effect," Ms Sturgeon says.

The number of cases is growing more slowly than at the start of month, and she hopes the effect of the "difficult and unwelcome" restrictions on hospitality will soon start to be seen as well.

We hope the rate of new cases will slow further and then decline, she adds, and that will be down to a reduction in our interactions with each other.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon reminds us of the latest daily figures, which reveal a further 1,327 people have tested positive for Covid-19, 8.7% of those tested yesterday.

1,100 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case - an increase of 48 from yesterday - with 82 being treated in intensive care, falling from 90 patients yesterday.

The first minister says the number of people in hospital with the virus is just 400 short of the peak in April.

A further 25 people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,276 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

The first minister starts by saying she intends to set out some changes to the proposed framework document the Scottish government published on Friday, external on how they plan to tackle Covid-19.

Nicola Sturgeon says she will consider each opposition amendment "in their entirety" and regardless of how the votes go later, she says the government will "seek to take those forward constructively".

She will also give some "very preliminary indications" as to the levels that might apply to different parts of Scotland.

A bit later than scheduled, Nicola Sturgeon is now about to give a statement to the Scottish Parliament to kick-start a debate about the Scottish government's new five-tier system of restrictions for tackling Covid-19.

A vote is due to be held around 19:00.

Image source, Reuters

Talks between the Scottish government and the football authorities aimed at seeing a return of fans to games will take place later this week.

Scotland moves to a five-tier Covid-19 restrictions system from next Monday.

And the Scottish FA and SPFL have asked what that means for football, given the proposed framework says areas in tiers zero and one can open stadiums to a restricted number of fans.

Apart from two test games in September, fans have not been allowed since March.

MSPs are still questioning Ivan McKee after a statement from the Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Graham has told members they must wrap up their questions by 15:45, so there will be a delay before Nicola Sturgeon gets to her feet.