First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been outlining "modest" easing of outdoor restrictions, here's the headlines from her statement:
Up to four adults from two different households will be able to meet outdoors in Scotland from Friday of this week
Restrictions on young people will also be eased, with four people aged between 12-17 able to meet even if they are all from different households
Outdoor non-contact group sports for adults will also restart on Friday
There will be “some flexibility” around the travel rules for young people to allow participation in sport - allowing travel 'a bit' outside their local authority
People will be able to gather for communal worship from 26 March, so long as no more than 50 people are in attendance and physical distancing is maintained throughout
the overall requirement to stay at home will remain in place except for specific purposes - which from Friday will include limited, outdoor socialising and recreation
Opposition party leaders joined with the first minister to condemn the behaviour of those Rangers fans who flouted the Covid regulations
466 people tested positive for Covid-19, which is 3.3% of the tests carried out
A further 19 deaths of people with Covid have been registered
That's all from us here on the live page. Please take care and stay safe.
Scottish Greens co-convenor Patrick Harvie also welcomes the easing of outdoor meeting restrictions.
He also says his thoughts are with everyone affected by the virus as the country approaches a "grim anniversary".
Mr Harvie highlights the mass events that have fallen foul of the restrictions, from music concerts to beer festivals, and asks: "Why should a football club be any different?"
He adds that Rangers "seriously did nothing to prevent dangerous mass gatherings in its name" and he asks why the club is being allowed to carry on for the rest of the season at the risk of such scenes being repeated.
The first minister says: "People are being asked to forgo all sorts of things right now and there can be no exceptions if we are to, frankly, get through it."
She also reveals she has received a three-page letter from Rangers which "does not even just reflect the fact that what happened at the weekend was deeply regrettable."
Ms Sturgeon says she is due to meet the chief constable and will provide an update before the scheduled Old Firm match on 21 March.
Quote Message: At no point did Rangers simply and unequivocally say to their fans: 'Stay at home' or, when they were gathering, say 'Go home'. from Nicola Sturgeon First Minister
At no point did Rangers simply and unequivocally say to their fans: 'Stay at home' or, when they were gathering, say 'Go home'.
ANALYSIS: 'Scots will have more freedom to meet up than people in England'
Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland News Correspondent
The relaxation of the rules on meeting up outdoors means
Scots will have more freedom to meet up than people in England.
Four adults from up to two households will be able to meet
outdoors from Friday.
In England, people are only currently allowed to meet up
with one person from outside their household.
Direct comparisons between Scotland and England are
inevitable even if some would say they are not always helpful.
In some other crucial respects Scotland remains more
cautious.
One big symbolic date south of the border is 12 April – the
date non-essential retail, outdoor hospitality and hairdressers in England can
reopen. In Scotland the nearest to an equivalent date at present is 26 April.
A big question is whether the definition of essential retail
in Scotland will be significantly widened to allow more shops to reopen from 5 April.
Another is whether the 26 April date will be brought forward
if the data remains positive.
Will there be an outbreak in Glasgow?, asks Rennie
BBCCopyright: BBC
Willie Rennie points out that the breach by Rangers fans
could result in an increase in the spread of the virus.
The Scottish Lib Dem leader asks if the first
minister is confident there won't be an outbreak in Glasgow.
Ms Sturgeon says she has already said at the
weekend that what happened in Glasgow could set back Scotland's progress.
"I fervently hope that is not the case," she says.
She adds that it will take time before we know for sure.
She says the clinical judgement is that it would be
wrong to hold back the minor changes to outdoor activity because of the
"behaviour of an irresponsible minority".
The first minister says the behaviour
of some Rangers at the weekend was "deeply selfish" and put the
health of "their loved ones and the wider community at risk".
'No indication' of community transmission from new variant case
BBCCopyright: BBC
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar welcomes the decision to allow more social interaction and says it is vital for people's mental health and wellbeing.
He adds that testing, contact tracing and "an expedient vaccine programme" are vital to ensure that the current lockdown is the last.
Mr Sarwar asks if every contact of the patient with the Brazilian variant, including every passenger on the flight, has been traced and notified of the need to isolate.
He also questions when Scotland will return to the previous vaccine target of 400,000 doses a week.
Mr Sarwar ends by expressing his "sadness and anger" at the scenes in Glasgow at the weekend after Rangers won the title.
The first minister says there were 22 passengers on board plus the cabin crew and confirms that 11 people went into managed quarantine.
She adds that there is "no indication at this stage of onward community transmission of this variant".
On vaccination, Ms Sturgeon says she expects supplies to pick up from mid-March and adds that the current dip has been reflected across the UK.
Aim is to keep case numbers low and guard against new variants
Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
It’s understandable that in parts of the country
with low levels of the virus there is frustration that restrictions are not
being lifted more quickly but experts say we are at a critical point.
It is
important to keep case numbers low and guard against new variants while the
vaccination programme continues. Here is why...
The most vulnerable should have some protection now
but it’s only when the vast majority of us are immunised that we can be more
confident the virus will not be able to generate new variants.
The more social
interaction, the more chance of mutations for which the vaccine does not work
as well. It could be the summer before there’s a high enough level of
vaccination to avoid that.
Even after that, scientists say we need to pay close
attention to travel as there is a risk of new variants being imported into the
country from overseas.
The government will have to weigh up these risks
against the wider health and economic benefits of easing restrictions but with
the levels system not due to be introduced until late April, there should be
time to look closely at what the data says.
WATCH AGAIN: Communal worship likely to resume from 26 March
Ruth Davidson says “Covid is in retreat” and agrees with the
first minister that scenes like those at the weekend in Glasgow “risk what has been
achieved by the actions of all of us”.
The Scottish Conservative Holyrood group leader says it has “come
for a shock to many” that the return to school has turned out to be “less than
billed”.
Ms Davidson says for many pupils and parents the return to
school will amount to only a few hours at best and calls for increased actual
teaching time.
The first minister says she understands that few groups in society have found the
pandemic more difficult than parents.
From 15 March, all primary school pupils will be back full time
and the government will also seek to have some in-school learning in the period
between now and Easter, outlines the first minister.
The intention is to have full return after the school holidays,
she says, stressing the need to find a balance.
WATCH AGAIN: Organised outdoor group exercise to resume
Quote Message: I am certain that easing restrictions too quickly would be a mistake that we would regret. So do take advantage of the relaxations set out today. But please continue to stay within the rules." from Nicola Sturgeon First Minister
I am certain that easing restrictions too quickly would be a mistake that we would regret. So do take advantage of the relaxations set out today. But please continue to stay within the rules."
FM cautions against doing 'too much too soon'
The first minister concludes by highlighting the significant fall in
new cases and the downward trend in deaths and hospital admissions.
She adds that the vaccination programme is also “progressing beyond our
initial expectations”.
As a result Ms Sturgeon expects “further, more substantial, changes will
be possible in the weeks ahead”.
She says: “All of this is excellent news, and provides strong grounds for hope. But that hope must also be balanced by caution.
“Because we have been in lockdown, it is easy to overlook the fact that
the virus we are dealing with now is much more infectious than the one we were
dealing with in the autumn.
“But we will be reminded of that very quickly, if we try to do too much
too soon.”
Communal worship to resume from 26 March
GettyCopyright: Getty
The first minster also announces that she intends to allow communal
worship to restart from Friday 26 March.
This is in time for Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.
In addition, she confirms the limit on attendance at communal services
will be increased from 20 to 50.
This is assuming a place of worship is spacious enough to accommodate such numbers with two-metre physical distancing.
She adds: “I know that the restrictions on communal worship have been
difficult for many people, despite the exceptional efforts made by faith groups
to reach out to their communities.
“This change is a proportionate step, which we believe can be achieved
relatively safely, and which will hopefully enable more people to draw
strength, comfort and inspiration from acts of collective worship.”
New rules on outdoor exercise and activities
Ms Sturgeon outlines some changes to the rules on outdoor
exercise and activities.
From Friday, outdoor non-contact sports and organised group exercise
will be permitted for all adults, in groups of up to 15 people.
She adds that there will also be “some flexibility” around the travel rules
for young people.
As a result, children will not be prevented from taking part in sport, if
for example they belong to a club which is “a bit outside their local authority
area”.
Quote Message: These are minor changes but they are important. They have also been made possible by the hard sacrifices the majority of people across the country have made. And we will seek to build on them as quickly as possible in the weeks ahead. from Nicola Sturgeon First Minister
These are minor changes but they are important. They have also been made possible by the hard sacrifices the majority of people across the country have made. And we will seek to build on them as quickly as possible in the weeks ahead.
Two-household limit won't apply to 12 to 17-year-olds
The first minister also confirms that for young people aged 12 to 17 outdoor
meetings will also be limited to a maximum of four people but the two-household
limit won’t apply.
She adds: “That means four friends from four different families
will be able to get together outdoors.
“This will hopefully allow young people to see more of their friends
than is currently the case.”
Outdoor meeting rules relaxed from Friday
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Ms Sturgeon confirms that from Friday the law will be relaxed to
allow up to four adults from up to two households
to meet outdoors.
She adds that this will allow for social and recreational purposes, as
well as essential exercise.
The first minister says meeting will be possible in any outdoor space,
including private gardens.
However she urges people to stick to the rules, stay as close to home as
possible and only go indoors if that is essential in order to reach a back garden or
to use the toilet.
Ms Sturgeon says she hopes to be a position to relax “at least
to some extent” travel restrictions within Scotland in the weeks ahead.
But she tells MSPs “it is not safe to do so just yet.”
WATCH AGAIN: Easing of restrictions for meeting outside
The first minister says it is her intention to ease restrictions “as
soon as we safely can”.
She adds: “We will do it quicker than previously anticipated if that
proves to be possible.”
Ms Sturgeon says she will update the parliament next week
with a “firmer timeline for our exit from lockdown”.
New 'possible case' of Brazil variant in Scotland
The first minister says “continued caution” is needed about the risk
of new variants entering Scotland.
She confirms a possible “although still unconfirmed” further case of
the P1 variant in Scotland has now been identified.
It involves an individual who travelled to Scotland from Rio de Janeiro,
via Paris, and arrived in the country on 19 February.
Ms Sturgeon says: “The individual followed the procedures for managed
self-isolation, and we currently have no reason to believe that this case
presents any risk to the wider community. However, we are of course continuing
to undertake all necessary follow-up work.”
She adds the new case should serve as a fresh warning.
Quote Message: The point I am making is that, even though we are heading firmly in the right direction, we cannot afford to take our foot off the brake too soon. We still need to keep the virus under control if our hopes for a much more normal summer are not to suffer a setback. from Nicola Sturgeon First Minister
The point I am making is that, even though we are heading firmly in the right direction, we cannot afford to take our foot off the brake too soon. We still need to keep the virus under control if our hopes for a much more normal summer are not to suffer a setback.
FM turns to new variant of Covid which accounts for 90% of new cases
BBCCopyright: BBC
The first minister says the more transmissible variant of Covid which was
identified before Christmas, now accounts for almost 90% of new cases in Scotland.
She warns that there is much to learn about this new variant and getting children back to school may push the R number above 1.
"If that happens, as we know all too well, case numbers will start to
grow again," she says.
Ms Sturgeon also warns that no vaccine will provide
absolute protection for our most vulnerable citizens.
Live Reporting
BBC Scotland News
All times stated are UK
-
Up to four adults from two different households will be able to meet outdoors in Scotland from Friday of this week
-
Restrictions on young people will also be eased, with four people aged between 12-17 able to meet even if they are all from different households
-
Outdoor non-contact group sports for adults will also restart on Friday
-
There will be “some flexibility” around the travel rules for young people to allow participation in sport - allowing travel 'a bit' outside their local authority
-
People will be able to gather for communal worship from 26 March, so long as no more than 50 people are in attendance and physical distancing is maintained throughout
-
the overall requirement to stay at home will remain in place except for specific purposes - which from Friday will include limited, outdoor socialising and recreation
-
Opposition party leaders joined with the first minister to condemn the behaviour of those Rangers fans who flouted the Covid regulations
-
466 people tested positive for Covid-19, which is 3.3% of the tests carried out
-
A further 19 deaths of people with Covid have been registered
View more on twitterView more on twitter 
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BBCCopyright: BBC 
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media View more on twitterView more on twitter 
BBCCopyright: BBC View more on twitterView more on twitter 
GettyCopyright: Getty 
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media View more on twitterView more on twitter 
BBCCopyright: BBC
Latest PostCovid in Scotland: The headlines
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been outlining "modest" easing of outdoor restrictions, here's the headlines from her statement:
That's all from us here on the live page. Please take care and stay safe.
Leitch highlights new rules
Why should a football club be any different?
Scottish Greens co-convenor Patrick Harvie also welcomes the easing of outdoor meeting restrictions.
He also says his thoughts are with everyone affected by the virus as the country approaches a "grim anniversary".
Mr Harvie highlights the mass events that have fallen foul of the restrictions, from music concerts to beer festivals, and asks: "Why should a football club be any different?"
He adds that Rangers "seriously did nothing to prevent dangerous mass gatherings in its name" and he asks why the club is being allowed to carry on for the rest of the season at the risk of such scenes being repeated.
The first minister says: "People are being asked to forgo all sorts of things right now and there can be no exceptions if we are to, frankly, get through it."
She also reveals she has received a three-page letter from Rangers which "does not even just reflect the fact that what happened at the weekend was deeply regrettable."
Ms Sturgeon says she is due to meet the chief constable and will provide an update before the scheduled Old Firm match on 21 March.
ANALYSIS: 'Scots will have more freedom to meet up than people in England'
Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland News Correspondent
The relaxation of the rules on meeting up outdoors means Scots will have more freedom to meet up than people in England.
Four adults from up to two households will be able to meet outdoors from Friday.
In England, people are only currently allowed to meet up with one person from outside their household.
Direct comparisons between Scotland and England are inevitable even if some would say they are not always helpful.
In some other crucial respects Scotland remains more cautious.
One big symbolic date south of the border is 12 April – the date non-essential retail, outdoor hospitality and hairdressers in England can reopen. In Scotland the nearest to an equivalent date at present is 26 April.
A big question is whether the definition of essential retail in Scotland will be significantly widened to allow more shops to reopen from 5 April.
Another is whether the 26 April date will be brought forward if the data remains positive.
Will there be an outbreak in Glasgow?, asks Rennie
Willie Rennie points out that the breach by Rangers fans could result in an increase in the spread of the virus.
The Scottish Lib Dem leader asks if the first minister is confident there won't be an outbreak in Glasgow.
Ms Sturgeon says she has already said at the weekend that what happened in Glasgow could set back Scotland's progress.
"I fervently hope that is not the case," she says.
She adds that it will take time before we know for sure.
She says the clinical judgement is that it would be wrong to hold back the minor changes to outdoor activity because of the "behaviour of an irresponsible minority".
The first minister says the behaviour of some Rangers at the weekend was "deeply selfish" and put the health of "their loved ones and the wider community at risk".
'No indication' of community transmission from new variant case
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar welcomes the decision to allow more social interaction and says it is vital for people's mental health and wellbeing.
He adds that testing, contact tracing and "an expedient vaccine programme" are vital to ensure that the current lockdown is the last.
Mr Sarwar asks if every contact of the patient with the Brazilian variant, including every passenger on the flight, has been traced and notified of the need to isolate.
He also questions when Scotland will return to the previous vaccine target of 400,000 doses a week.
Mr Sarwar ends by expressing his "sadness and anger" at the scenes in Glasgow at the weekend after Rangers won the title.
The first minister says there were 22 passengers on board plus the cabin crew and confirms that 11 people went into managed quarantine.
She adds that there is "no indication at this stage of onward community transmission of this variant".
On vaccination, Ms Sturgeon says she expects supplies to pick up from mid-March and adds that the current dip has been reflected across the UK.
Aim is to keep case numbers low and guard against new variants
Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent
It’s understandable that in parts of the country with low levels of the virus there is frustration that restrictions are not being lifted more quickly but experts say we are at a critical point.
It is important to keep case numbers low and guard against new variants while the vaccination programme continues. Here is why...
The most vulnerable should have some protection now but it’s only when the vast majority of us are immunised that we can be more confident the virus will not be able to generate new variants.
The more social interaction, the more chance of mutations for which the vaccine does not work as well. It could be the summer before there’s a high enough level of vaccination to avoid that.
Even after that, scientists say we need to pay close attention to travel as there is a risk of new variants being imported into the country from overseas.
The government will have to weigh up these risks against the wider health and economic benefits of easing restrictions but with the levels system not due to be introduced until late April, there should be time to look closely at what the data says.
WATCH AGAIN: Communal worship likely to resume from 26 March
Return to school 'less than billed' says Davidson
Ruth Davidson says “Covid is in retreat” and agrees with the first minister that scenes like those at the weekend in Glasgow “risk what has been achieved by the actions of all of us”.
The Scottish Conservative Holyrood group leader says it has “come for a shock to many” that the return to school has turned out to be “less than billed”.
Ms Davidson says for many pupils and parents the return to school will amount to only a few hours at best and calls for increased actual teaching time.
The first minister says she understands that few groups in society have found the pandemic more difficult than parents.
From 15 March, all primary school pupils will be back full time and the government will also seek to have some in-school learning in the period between now and Easter, outlines the first minister.
The intention is to have full return after the school holidays, she says, stressing the need to find a balance.
WATCH AGAIN: Organised outdoor group exercise to resume
FM: 'Please continue to stay within the rules'
FM cautions against doing 'too much too soon'
The first minister concludes by highlighting the significant fall in new cases and the downward trend in deaths and hospital admissions.
She adds that the vaccination programme is also “progressing beyond our initial expectations”.
As a result Ms Sturgeon expects “further, more substantial, changes will be possible in the weeks ahead”.
She says: “All of this is excellent news, and provides strong grounds for hope. But that hope must also be balanced by caution.
“Because we have been in lockdown, it is easy to overlook the fact that the virus we are dealing with now is much more infectious than the one we were dealing with in the autumn.
“But we will be reminded of that very quickly, if we try to do too much too soon.”
Communal worship to resume from 26 March
The first minster also announces that she intends to allow communal worship to restart from Friday 26 March.
This is in time for Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.
In addition, she confirms the limit on attendance at communal services will be increased from 20 to 50.
This is assuming a place of worship is spacious enough to accommodate such numbers with two-metre physical distancing.
She adds: “I know that the restrictions on communal worship have been difficult for many people, despite the exceptional efforts made by faith groups to reach out to their communities.
“This change is a proportionate step, which we believe can be achieved relatively safely, and which will hopefully enable more people to draw strength, comfort and inspiration from acts of collective worship.”
New rules on outdoor exercise and activities
Ms Sturgeon outlines some changes to the rules on outdoor exercise and activities.
From Friday, outdoor non-contact sports and organised group exercise will be permitted for all adults, in groups of up to 15 people.
She adds that there will also be “some flexibility” around the travel rules for young people.
As a result, children will not be prevented from taking part in sport, if for example they belong to a club which is “a bit outside their local authority area”.
Two-household limit won't apply to 12 to 17-year-olds
The first minister also confirms that for young people aged 12 to 17 outdoor meetings will also be limited to a maximum of four people but the two-household limit won’t apply.
She adds: “That means four friends from four different families will be able to get together outdoors.
“This will hopefully allow young people to see more of their friends than is currently the case.”
Outdoor meeting rules relaxed from Friday
Ms Sturgeon confirms that from Friday the law will be relaxed to allow up to four adults from up to two households to meet outdoors.
She adds that this will allow for social and recreational purposes, as well as essential exercise.
The first minister says meeting will be possible in any outdoor space, including private gardens.
However she urges people to stick to the rules, stay as close to home as possible and only go indoors if that is essential in order to reach a back garden or to use the toilet.
Ms Sturgeon says she hopes to be a position to relax “at least to some extent” travel restrictions within Scotland in the weeks ahead.
But she tells MSPs “it is not safe to do so just yet.”
WATCH AGAIN: Easing of restrictions for meeting outside
FM: Lockdown may be eased 'quicker'
The first minister says it is her intention to ease restrictions “as soon as we safely can”.
She adds: “We will do it quicker than previously anticipated if that proves to be possible.”
Ms Sturgeon says she will update the parliament next week with a “firmer timeline for our exit from lockdown”.
New 'possible case' of Brazil variant in Scotland
The first minister says “continued caution” is needed about the risk of new variants entering Scotland.
She confirms a possible “although still unconfirmed” further case of the P1 variant in Scotland has now been identified.
It involves an individual who travelled to Scotland from Rio de Janeiro, via Paris, and arrived in the country on 19 February.
Ms Sturgeon says: “The individual followed the procedures for managed self-isolation, and we currently have no reason to believe that this case presents any risk to the wider community. However, we are of course continuing to undertake all necessary follow-up work.”
She adds the new case should serve as a fresh warning.
FM turns to new variant of Covid which accounts for 90% of new cases
The first minister says the more transmissible variant of Covid which was identified before Christmas, now accounts for almost 90% of new cases in Scotland.
She warns that there is much to learn about this new variant and getting children back to school may push the R number above 1.
"If that happens, as we know all too well, case numbers will start to grow again," she says.
Ms Sturgeon also warns that no vaccine will provide absolute protection for our most vulnerable citizens.