Image source, SPTV

Deputy convener Monica Lennon stays with Lanarkshire and says there are "strong hints" it might end up in Level 4.

Ms Lennon adds people feel like "the goal posts are moving".

The first minister explains: "We genuinely have to assess these things on a regular basis."

Ms Sturgeon reminds the committee the current allocation of levels will be reviewed next Tuesday.

She understands there is a sense of "changing goalposts", but that is inherent in dealing with this infectious virus.

The first minister says the new Covid alert system is more relevant and transparent, but she says "we are not dealing with an exact science".

Ms Sturgeon explains the government must be driven by the data but also judgement must be applied to this data, for example in the case of Lanarkshire last week.

Views from the public health community, the local authority and the police had to be taken into account before Lanarkshire was put at Level 3.

The first minister says she always tries to explain how decisions are arrived at and explain the "inherent uncertainties" in that.

Tory MSP Donald Cameron asks if there is a hierarchy in the indicators that underpin the tier system.

Ms Sturgeon replies there is not a hierarchy - it is looked at in the round.

Even the indicators are not the whole picture, they have to be put in context, she says.

The first minister points out obviously health service capacity is a key issue and it would drive some pretty urgent action.

The new five-level system of local Covid restrictions came into force at 06:00 on Monday 2 November.

• Nicola Sturgeon gives details of the Covid alert system
• Look up the UK's different Covid levels

Image source, SPTV

Committee convener Donald Cameron asks if a national lockdown becomes unavoidable would it be achieved through the government's strategic framework.

The first minister replies: "That would be our aim."

Ms Sturgeon says there would not be a move away from the level framework, rather there would be the application of Level 4.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government has said it still does not know whether the full furlough scheme will be available to Scotland once lockdown ends in England at the start of next month.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that the scheme would "continue to be available wherever it is needed".

But his housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, has since cast doubt on this.

Nicola Sturgeon said she was awaiting further detail from the Treasury about how it will work in practice.

Read the full story here.

The first minister says she wants to drive down the infection rate so that the NHS is not overwhelmed during the winter.

"If we go into winter with a high base line of infections any, even quite marginal, increase in the R number would risk the virus overwhelming us and that would have significant implications for the the national health service and of course for health and life.

"The situation we are in is very fragile."

Image source, Scottish Parliament TV

"We have some grounds for cautious optimism," Nicola Sturgeon tells the committee in her opening statement.

She says the steps that have been taken in recent weeks have had a positive impact.

"That's a combination of the household restrictions, restrictions on hospitality, but more importantly than that the compliance of the public with all the rules and guidance," she adds.

The first minister says there has been a tailing off in the increase of infections - but it remains to be seen whether that will continue in the coming days.

Scottish Parliament TV is streaming the evidence session with the first minister., external

Nicola Sturgeon is about to give evidence to the Covid-19 Committee at Holyrood.

The first minister, alongside interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith, will be questioned about the regulations governing the new five-tier coronavirus protection system.

MSPs may also want to hear if there have been more details about the UK government's furlough wage support scheme, and to know what - if anything - the first minister has heard from the Treasury.

Papers for the meeting are available at this webpage, external.

Scottish Parliament TV will also be streaming the evidence session., external

• Nicola Sturgeon will shortly give evidence to the Covid-19 committee at Holyrood
• Scotland's NHS is "facing a perfect storm" as staff shortages and a lack of hospital beds hamper efforts to tackle rising numbers of coronavirus cases, according to a leading physician
• Prof Jackie Taylor is calling for a "coherent strategy" for testing staff and all hospital patients was needed
• The first minister has said she does not plan to make any changes to Scotland's Covid restrictions before next week

• The Scottish government says it still does not know whether the full furlough scheme will be available to Scotland once lockdown ends in England at the start of next month
• Nicola Sturgeon "welcomes" the commitment made by PM Boris Johnson that the higher-level (80%) furlough scheme will be available "wherever it is needed", but does so "with a degree of caution”

• The Scottish government is still awaiting confirmation from the Treasury that it is definitely UK government policy
• More than 190,000 children will be eligible for the Scottish Child Payment, which is available for low-income families from February 2021

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to BBC Scotland's rolling coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland on Wednesday 4 November 2020.

Nicola Sturgeon faces a busy day ahead, giving evidence to Holyrood's Covid-19 Committee from 9.30am and then leading the coronavirus daily briefing from 12.15pm.

You can follow the latest developments right here and watch or listen live to the Covid-19 Committee by clicking on the tab above.