• Scotland's cases have "more than tripled" in the past month with Friday's 992 new cases the highest figure reported since 17 February
• The first minister said the R number is now above one and the whole of the UK is at the start of a third wave, driven by the Delta variant
• Prof Jason Leitch said the Delta variant probably accounts for up to 70% of all new Covid cases in Scotland
• Ms Sturgeon also urges caution as new levels come into effect on Saturday - 14 councils in level two, 15 in level one and three in level zero
• The first minister defends her health secretary after he said that 10 children had been hospitalised "because of Covid"
• People are urged against international travel "unless essential", as the UK is set to move Portugal to the amber list of countries
• The UK has approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds - but Nicola Sturgeon said there is "work to be done" before a rollout in Scotland
• With the Euro 2020 fan zone set to open in Glasgow next week, questions are raised over mass testing - the first minister said there were ethical issues around mandatory testing but asked that people test themselves twice a week

Image source, Reuters

The first minister is asked how many cases of the Covid variant first discovered in India are there in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon says that it is very difficult to know for sure exactly how many cases of the so-called Delta variant there are, but that there have been about 1,500 confirmed cases so far. She cautions that the actual number is likely to be far higher.

Prof Leitch adds that experts think up to 70% of all new cases in Scotland are of the Delta variant, equating to between 600 and 700 of the latest cases detected in the past 24 hours.

Gillian Mackay from the Scottish Greens says she agrees there is a need to stay cautious and that we are at a critical point.

She thinks we were always going to see an uptick in cases as we relax restrictions.

She says she has heard from young people in hospitality who are concerned at increasing transmission while they have not yet been offered a first vaccine.

She adds that people would rather see a momentary pause in easing restrictions than see an exponential rise in cases.

Finally she says that she feels for people in Portugal who feel they have to cut holidays short. But she says we have to recognise a precarious position and should not be travelling overseas unless we absolutely have to.

Her message is to stay in Scotland.

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross tells the BBC's coronavirus update programme that despite current case levels, Scotland should still look to the end of June level zero target "with hope and optimism".

He says we're "not seeing huge numbers in hospital" and calls for a more targeted approach in delivering vaccines.

Mr Ross also asks the Scottish government for more clarity on how areas can move out of level two, saying "we don’t need to shut down entire cities if we see a spike in cases".

On the subject of international travel, he says caution is the right approach but given the most vulnerable people are now protected by the vaccine, we should also be looking at wider issues like the economy and jobs.

How close is Scotland to allowing all adults to get vaccinated?published at 13:06 British Summer Time 4 June 2021

13:06 BST 4 June 2021

Question from Robert in Edinburgh

So far, about 75% of Scotland's adult population has received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

And 48% have received both doses.

The target is for all adults to have received their first dose by the end of July.

In the charts below, you can see what proportion of each age group has received both a first and second dose.

• You can check the state of Scotland's Covid epidemic every day here.

Prof Jason Leitch is asked by the BBC if he agrees with the health secretary's analysis that it is too risky to travel to a level one area for soft play and if he thinks Humza Yousaf caused alarm to parents over levels of Covid in children.

The first minister jumps in on Humza Yousaf's comments and says he was simply saying that nothing is without risk and that applies to children as well as adults.

She says no one in the government is trying to alarm people.

She says they don't have all the answers and instead of not saying anything they try to share information about what they are looking at.

She says that as the number of older people in hospital lowers, they are looking at whether the numbers of younger people will rise. She says the government could stay silent for fear of comments being taken the wrong way but she believes it is better to share knowledge as they go along.

Prof Jason Leitch adds that he agrees and advises that people should not travel from a higher level area to a lower level area to take part in activities that aren't allowed in their own area.

Jack Foster from Global points out that Scotland is "no longer on course" to go into level zero by the end of June.

He asks why we are still working with this timetable given how people will be making summer plans.

Ms Sturgeon says she "still has the optimism" she felt when the timetable was initially set out because of vaccines.

"I cannot take every personal decision for everyone in the country," she says, but advised people to have "at the back of your mind" that things have the potential to change at short notice.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Kerr from the BBC asks about the Glasgow Green Euro 2020 fan zone and mentions comments made by public health expert Prof Christine Tait-Burkhard that the Scottish government should re-think testing arrangements.

Nicola Sturgeon says that everything is being kept under ongoing review. She says this will be considered over the weekend and that it involves careful judgements.

She says there are ethical issues around mandatory testing but says people are being asked to test themselves twice a week, and before they go anywhere.

What are the rules for meeting indoors in level one?published at 12:50 British Summer Time 4 June 2021

12:50 BST 4 June 2021

Question from William in Forres

Image source, Getty Images

At level one, you are allowed to meet up socially in groups of up to six people from three households in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight.

And groups of up to eight people from three households are allowed to gather in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant.

Up to 12 people from 12 households are allowed to meet outdoors in your garden or a public place.

You also don't need to physically distance from family and friends inside a private home.

• You can read more of the level one rules here., external

The first minister is asked for her reaction to the UK regulator approving the Pfizer vaccine for use on 12 to 15-year-olds.

She says "any good news on vaccines makes my heart sing".

However, she says there is "work to be done" and Scotland will wait for JCVI advice and will need to consider supply implications.

Asked whether it was right to put Portugal on the green travel list, the FM says "none of these decisions are straightforward" and reiterated her plea for people to avoid travel unless essential.

The first minister emphasises her top three key requests for people affected by the change in restrictions:

• Get vaccinated when you get your invitation and make sure you attend for both doses
• Get tested - she says there are now 50 walk-in testing centres and they are open to everyone. You can also order lateral flow tests through the NHS website
• Follow all public health advice. Handwashing, face coverings, social distancing.

She says we are in a difficult but fragile position but it is better than where we were earlier in the year.

She says it is vital we exercise caution.

Image source, PA Media

The FM runs through the latest update on international travel after Portugal questioned the UK's decision to remove it from the travel green list from Tuesday.

Ms Sturgeon says the basic guidance on international travel remains unchanged - "If it's not essential please don’t travel" she says, as it creates additional risk of new variants being brought into the country.

She concludes by urging people to "stick with" Covid rules overall, asking people to "exercise caution" as we go into the summer - when we "have the prospect of living with much less restrictions".

Image source, PA Media

Ms Sturgeon says being able to visit friends or have a drink in a bar will be a "great relief" to people in Glasgow.

She says the move to level two is due to the great sacrifice made by its citizens and says she understands how difficult it has been.

But she warns people to be careful, stay outside as much as possible, and stick to the limits indoors (six from three households) and to keep washing hands and keep windows open.

At level two, can I have someone else in my car?published at 12:36 British Summer Time 4 June 2021

12:36 BST 4 June 2021

Question from Chrissie in North Ayrshire

Image source, Getty Images

You should avoid car sharing with anyone from another household "unless you absolutely have to", according to the guidance. It says if you do have to share a car journey, you must take the following precautions:

• limit the number of people in the car to as few as possible, ideally no more than two people (including children over 12).
• use the biggest vehicle possible
• sit as far apart as possible - ideally a passenger should sit in the back seat diagonally opposite the driver, aiming for 2 metres between them
• windows in the car should be opened as far as possible to improve ventilation
• wear face coverings
• avoid eating in the car
• passengers should try not to touch surfaces
• keep music/radio to a minimum to prevent the need to raise your voice
• keep journey times to the minimum feasible - the longer the journey, the higher the risk
• clean the car regularly

If you can't avoid car sharing, you can read more about how to do so in the safest way here. , external

Scotland's councils will be in the following levels from Saturday:

• Level two - Glasgow; Edinburgh; Midlothian; Dundee; East Dunbartonshire; Renfrewshire; East Renfrewshire; North Ayshire; South Ayrshire; East Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; South Lanarkshire; Clackmannanshire; and Stirling
• Level one - Highland; Argyll and Bute; Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Moray; Angus; Perth and Kinross; Falkirk; Fife; Inverclyde; East Lothian; West Lothian; West Dunbartonshire; Dumfries and Galloway; and the Borders
• Level zero - Shetland; Orkney; the Western Isles and a number of smaller islands

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon says given Scotland's fragile position, her approach to determining the next levels move was a "cautious" one.

She says she knows this will be frustrating for many people, but highlights there is today "at least one case" reported in every health board area.

That being said, there are many areas where case numbers are low in the mainland, she says.

The FM says that although some of the news is bad, there is an upside - the vaccine programme.

She says this is giving us hope we can move beyond the restrictive approach that's been necessary over the last year.

She says the situation is "hopeful but fragile" while a significant amount of the population is still not fully vaccinated.

She says we must exercise continued care and that is why we have the pause in the easing of restrictions.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says Scotland is at a "critical juncture" in the way we deal with Covid and that we are still in a "transition" to a less restrictive way of live.

Cases are rising again and have "more than tripled" over the past month, she says, with today's case numbers at the highest level since 17 February.

Ms Sturgeon says our position is "fragile" with the R number above one and the whole of the UK now at the start of a third wave - largely driven by the Delta variant.

She says early data suggests "all else being equal" this variant could increase the risk of hospitalisation.

There were 992 positive cases of Covid-19 reported yesterday, representing 3.9% of total number of tests.

That brings the total number of cases to 238,893.

In total 304 cases were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 213 in Lothian and 144 in Tayside.

There are 116 people in hospital, which is six more than yesterday.

Of them eight people are in ICU, the same as yesterday.

Two deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, meaning the total number of deaths by that definition is now 7,676.

As of 07:30 this morning 3,326,005 had their first dose of the vaccine, up 20,193 since yesterday.

A further 32,952 had their second dose yesterday - a total of 2,170,570.

Do you need a Covid test to travel to the Hebrides from the mainland?published at 12:18 British Summer Time 4 June 2021

12:18 BST 4 June 2021

Question from Rhys in Penarth, Wales

Image source, Getty Images

You don't need a test to travel to the islands, but it is encouraged.

The Scottish government say this is important to reduce the risk of coronavirus being brought into island communities.

You can order rapid lateral flow tests to be delivered to you anywhere in the UK. They should arrive in 1-2 days.

Travellers are asked to test three days before they plan to travel and then again on the day you leave for the islands.

If you test positive, you should complete your period of self-isolation before you begin your journey.

• You can read more about what to do if you're planning to travel to the islands here., external