Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

Image source, PA Media

The four governments of the UK are close to an agreement on coronavirus arrangements for Christmas.

The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is due to take part in a call with other devolved leaders and the UK minister, Michael Gove, at 4pm to finalise the details.

BBC Scotland understands the governments have agreed to allow up to three households to meet indoors during a five day period, probably 23-27 December.

Ms Sturgeon has said that the precise definition of what constitutes a “household” may vary between nations. It’s understood the temporary relaxation of will include lifting travel restrictions and allowing overnight stays.

All four governments are expected to urge people to use this flexibility sparingly because public health officials are worried lots of Christmas get togethers could cause a January spike in covid cases.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks the first minister what steps she had taken regarding the recent tweet from Ian Blackford.

He also asks what consideration she has given to mass testing in level four areas in order to put an end to travel restrictions.

Nicola Sturgeon says when people do get things wrong they should “readily apologise” - which Mr Blackford has done - and "this is the grace and dignity" she associates with him "every day of the week".

On the issue of travel restrictions Ms Sturgeon says "they are in law for good reason" and at present they are "absolutely necessary".

She adds that early indications show people have "responded magnificently" to the restrictions with road traffic in level four areas reduced by 30%.

Image source, PA Media

The SNP's Westminster leader has apologised after being accused of bullying a photographer who he suggested may have broken Covid rules.

Ian Blackford posted a tweet claiming that Ollie Taylor lives in the south of England, and questioned why he had taken a photograph of the Northern Lights in Caithness.

But Mr Taylor said he moved to Caithness earlier this year.

Mr Blackford has since deleted his tweet and apologised to Mr Taylor.

• Read more here
• What are Scotland's new travel restrictions?

The Scottish government has published a summary of the key Covid indicators and trends for each of Scotland's 32 local authorities, external.

It shows that Renfrewshire has the most cases per 100,000 of the population, followed by North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and Glasgow City.

North Lanarkshire has the highest rate of positive tests, followed by South Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

Alison Johnstone says 8.6% of recent tests have proven positive which is above the WHO threshold of 5%.

The Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader calls on the first minister to ensure the evidence behind the arrangements for Christmas is published.

She also calls for the modelling of the impact on the number of new infections to be published and asks what level of increase would be acceptable.

The first minister replies that evidence and modelling will continue to be published if the government considers it to be helpful and appropriate.

Ms Sturgeon says the government is seeking to give people the option, should their personal circumstances require it, of a bit of flexibility over Christmas.

"What we are not saying is we are absolutely encouraging everybody to go out and use that to the maximum," she added.

It's about people using their judgement and people who can get through Christmas without mixing more than current advice should do so, she explains.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard asks the first minister if funding will be made available over and above the £30m announced last week to support businesses in level four areas. He cited businesses currently closing in Midlothian due to the council being in level three.

Ms Sturgeon says she will "never seek to sugar coat" the issue and it was a "torrid period we're living through".

She says that while decision-making must continue to be flexible, the data did not show that Midlothian could move down to level two.

The council would get a share of the £30m already announced, Ms Sturgeon adds, and that while the situation was "not ideal", it would give "perhaps greater stability that the alternative might have been".

MSP Ruth Davidson asks the first minister if she and the health secretary are satisfied that all health boards are ready to deliver the Covid vaccination programme.

She also asks how many of the 2,000 vaccinators needed will come from current staff and how many need to be recruited.

Nicola Sturgeon says all health boards were at the point they needed to be at and this would continue to be monitored.

She says there will be a “mixture” of staff taken from existing roles in the flu vaccination programme and those who are recruited.

Based on recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), people in care homes, people over the age of 80 and front line health care workers will be vaccinated first, Ms Sturgeon says.

She adds that the Scottish government’s goal is to immunise the entire adult population “as quickly as is feasible to do so”. She also acknowledges the process will be the “biggest logistical exercise and challenge” so far undertaken.

Image source, Scottish government

The first minister stresses there is a distinct possibility the first vaccines could be administered before Christmas.

There is also a possibility that by the spring of next year we could be closer to something more like normal life, she adds.

However Covid is still widespread and causing heartbreak to families each and every day.

Ms Sturgeon calls on everyone to follow the rules and FACTS:

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

2. Postcode checker, external for COVID restrictions by protection level in areas of Scotland

3. NHS Inform, external

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

Ms Sturgeon turns to ensuring that Christmas is safe and explains there are ongoing discussions among the four UK nations.

The first minister says she will take part in a Cobra meeting later today where she hopes a common framework can be agreed.

She says the precise definition of household may differ slightly due to the different circumstances facing each nation.

The arrangements to be put in place for the festive period will balance the desire to see loved ones with the risk of spreading the infection to them.

Ms Sturgeon says: "Any easing of restrictions will be temporary, it will be limited and it will be accompanied by advice on the precautions that we should all take to minimise risk.

"We will continue to ask people to err on the side of caution."

Image source, Reuters

There will also be an update on the use of lateral flow testing devices on students to support their return home for Christmas, says the first minister.

All students will be offered two Covid tests if they wish to go home and she confirms the student testing programme will get underway next week.

She strongly recommends any student wishing to go home is tested and takes extra care in the preceding two weeks before they travel.

Read more: Mass testing of students to begin

Ms Sturgeon highlights yesterday's good news from the Oxford AstraZenica trial and congratulates the team there.

The first minister says the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.

She says we must continue to do all we can to keep the virus at bay over a "tough winter".

Image source, PA Media

Ms Sturgeon tells the chamber the health secretary will set out plans tomorrow to extend asymptomatic testing.

She confirms the government is working with the 11 councils and five health boards in level four to develop and deliver targeted geographical testing.

We'll also learn tomorrow about plans to test designated visitors to care homes, to care at home workers and further groups of NHS staff.

The Scottish government has published its latest data on the allocation of levels.

Eleven local authority areas moved to level 4 on 20 November. It is too early to make any judgements on the impact of that move, it says.

"There is a significantly improved picture across Scotland with regard to projected pressures on NHS capacity. Every local authority is now showing “low concern” for projected use of hospital and intensive care beds.

"This is excellent progress, and it is vital that this is maintained if we are to meet the challenges of the winter season."

Read more, external

The first minister tells the chamber the government is monitoring Clackmannanshire and Perth and Kinross, both in level three for now, due to recent increases in cases in both areas.

Nicola Sturgeon turns to Midlothian and East Lothian.

East Lothian moved to level two at 06:00 today.

However in recent days there has been an increase in cases in Midlothian which is a source of concern.

Therefore as a precaution Midlothian should remain in level three for a further period of time.

The first minister says the prevalence of the virus in Argyll and Bute and in Dumfries and Galloway will remain at level two.

In both regions the level of the virus continues to fall or has stabilised and if that continues the government is hopeful of a move to level one in the coming weeks.

There have been recent rises in case numbers in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City but these have been attributed to specific outbreaks, being managed by local health teams.

So the judgement is they do not require a change of levels.

Ms Sturgeon says the latest data shows the current restrictions are having an impact.

There are now grounds for cautious optimism that the number of new cases may be declining, says the first minister.

She says the R number is between 0.8 and one.

Ms Sturgeon reiterates there are no changes to those areas in level four this week.

• What are Scotland's new lockdown rules?
• Covid-19 in Scotland: Where are the latest cases?
• Check the Covid rules where you live

The first minister turns to the allocation of Covid alert levels and says with the exception of East Lothian, which has moved to level two, the Scottish government is not proposing any change.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms a further 771 people have tested positive for Covid-19, 8.6% of those newly tested yesterday.

This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 90,081.

1,197 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case (down 11), with 84 being treated in intensive care.

41 deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours following a positive Covid test, taking the total to 3,544 deaths in Scotland by that measure.