Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon says she understands why people want to be given an end date to restrictions but she adds if she did that now she would be "making it up"

  • The first minister told Holyrood yesterday that her approach to lifting lockdown would be cautious and gradual

  • In Scotland, shops, bars, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers are expected to start opening from 26 April, two weeks after England

  • From 15 March four people from two households will be allowed to meet outdoors

  • Weekly fatalities linked to coronavirus are continuing to fall, according to the latest National Records of Scotland data

  • Between 15 and 21 February there were 290 death certificates which had a mention of Covid-19 - that was 35 fewer than the previous week. Care home deaths fell by 69% in the past week

  • There have been 798 new cases (3.9% of all lab tests); the number of patients in hospital stands at 1,018 (down 55) and of those 93 are in ICU (no change)

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. The Covid-19 briefing is next...

    Nicola Sturgeon will now lead the daily briefingPA Media

    Nicola Sturgeon will now lead the daily briefing

    Nicola Sturgeon will now lead today's Covid-19 briefing imminently, joined by national clinical director, Prof Jason Leitch.

    BBC One Scotland will have expert analysis and political reaction to the briefing.

    Meanwhile, you can watch all the journalists' questions at the briefing on the BBC Scotland channel.

    We'll bring you the best of both here on the live page, so stay with us...

  2. Covid in Scotland: The headlines

    Nicola Sturgeon set out Scotland's first steps out of lockdown on Tuesday

  3. How Scotland may come out of lockdown

    Key dates

  4. Hospitality calls for clarity on easing lockdown

    PubGetty Images

    Businesses have called for more clarity on the easing of Covid lockdown restrictions.

    It comes after the first minister set out her plans on Tuesday for the country and businesses to reopen between now and April.

    However, it will be mid-March before more details are spelled out.

    The Scottish government said non-essential retail, hospitality and services such as gyms and hairdressers would not reopen before 26 April.

  5. PMQs has also started...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

  6. Covid in Scotland: Restrictions, guidance and advice

    Here's some key Covid information resources:

    1. Scottish government - Coronavirus: What you can and cannot do

    From Tuesday 5 January, mainland Scotland moved from level four to a temporary lockdown, with new guidance to stay at home except for essential purposes.

    2. Scottish government - Coronavirus: Strategic Framework update - February 2021

    The first minister set out the plan to restore, in a phased way, greater normality to our everyday lives

    3. BBC Scotland - Covid in Scotland: What rules are changing, and when?

    Covid warningGetty Images

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

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

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

    6. Vaccines - What should you do if you have concerns about your vaccination appointment:

    • Call your GP
    • Call the helpline: 0800 030 8013
    • As a last resort Nicola Sturgeon has reiterated you could e-mail her team at firstminister@gov.scot

  7. 290 deaths in last week linked to Covid-19
    Breaking

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

    A total of 9,347 Scots deaths have been linked to Covid-19, official figures show.

    The National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures indicate 290 people died in the week ending 21 February, a decrease of 35 from the previous week.

    The figures are higher than the daily figure announced by Nicola Sturgeon because they include all cases where Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate, even if the patient had not been tested.

  8. Lunchtime Live is under way...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

  9. Welcome

    There has been strong criticism of the route-map out of lockdown from the hospitality sector.PA Media

    There has been strong criticism of the route map out of lockdown from the hospitality sector.

    Welcome to BBC Scotland's rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday 24 February 2021.

    There's a lot of strong reaction from around Scotland to the "cautious" route out of lockdown Nicola Sturgeon unveiled yesterday.

    The first minister can expect the speed of the easing of restrictions to dominate todays' briefing.

    She will be joined by national clinical director Prof Jason Leitch.