Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon says the current state of the pandemic is positive and the lockdown exit plan "could be accelerated"

  • The first minister announces that all primary pupils will be back at school full time from 15 March

  • However, secondary pupils will not be back full time until after the Easter holidays which finishes around 19 April

  • They will be allowed some classroom learning from mid-March but will have to maintain two metre social distancing and wear face masks "at all times"

  • Opposition parties pressed Ms Sturgeon on the work being done to get children back safely. Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie believes schools have been given very little time to get ready

  • Ms Sturgeon insists that her continued cautious approach is right in the "face of a dangerous virus"

  • A further 542 positive lab tests have been logged (4.4% of all tests); hospital numbers have fallen by 40 and now stands at 784 and of those 71 are in ICU (no change)

  • From 26 April, non-essential shops, hairdressers and gyms will re-open in Scotland, two weeks after England

  • More than 1.6 million people have received their first dose of the Covid vaccination

Live Reporting

  1. At a glance: Scotland's route map out of lockdown

    route map

  2. Covid in Scotland: Tuesday's headlines

    schoolchildrenGetty Images

    • More details are expected on the phased return of schools and a clearer indication on when all pupils could be back to face-to-face learning
    • New rules will make it harder for areas to drop to lower Covid tiers when the levels system returns after the Scottish government adopted stricter WHO guidelines
    • Contact tracing continues in Aberdeen after the Brazilian variant of Covid-19 was detected in oil and gas workers who travelled to Scotland
    • Covid deaths in UK are down by a quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics
    • Monday brought new data suggesting that a single dose of the Oxford vaccine - or the Pfizer one - reduces hospitalisation by 80%
    • More than half of all adults in the Western Isles have now had their first Covid-19 vaccination.

  3. More than 22,000 vaccinations carried out on Monday

    The daily vaccination figures show that as of 08:30, 1,634,361 people had received the first dose of a Covid vaccination.

    This is an increase of 22,783 on yesterday.

    A total of 84,445 have had the second jab.

    Figures were released late on Monday due to an IT glitch.

  4. A further 33 covid-related deaths reported

    Scotland has registered a further 33 Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours.

    The latest daily figures show 542 people tested positive for the virus, which is 4.5% of the total number of tests carried out.

    There are 784 people in hospital, down 40 from yesterday.

    And 71 patients are being treated in intensive care, no change from yesterday.

  5. Restrictions, vaccine and travel key to route out of lockdown

    Lisa Summers
    BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

    Bus and coronavirus message on billboardPA Media

    We are in a much better position to consider emerging out of lockdown than we were last summer. We have a vaccine that has been shown to be far more effective than anyone had imagined at preventing serious illness and potentially reducing transmission. So why such strict criteria for the route out?

    There are three key things that need to work together: restrictions, vaccine, travel.

    Evidence shows the now dominant UK B117 variant is more contagious so it must be kept at bay. While we have detected both the South African and Brazilian variant here, strict travel restrictions and quarantine should limit that. But scientists worry that with many young people still unvaccinated you could risk further home grown mutations if there is too much social mixing.

    Using stricter criteria on the numbers will give the government more flexibility but it’s only one of a range of measures. It will also be determined by how well public health can keep on top of any outbreaks, the number of hospital admissions, and what the scientific data says about variants of concern.

    The levels system won’t be re-introduced until the end of April so there is still time to re-evaluate. It’s all about keeping numbers low, stopping importations and getting on with the vaccine programme.

  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 guidelines 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. Welcome

    Nicola SturgeonGetty Images

    Nicola Sturgeon will update MSPs on any plans to progress out of lockdown

    Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Scotland's rolling coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland on Tuesday 2 March 2021.

    The first minister is preparing to update MSPs on any changes to the lockdown restrictions.

    A week ago she revealed her plan was to lift restrictions gradually "with a view to more substantial re-opening" from late April onward.

    However, it has been suggested there may be some movement on further opening of schools.

    Nicola Sturgeon is due in the chamber from about 14:00 and will begin her statement following topical questions.

    We will bring you her statement here live, plus all the opposition reaction.