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Douglas Ross welcomes the move away from "blanket legal restrictions, towards an approach based on public health guidance".

The Scottish Conservative leader points to his own party's publication "Back to Normality", which he says trusts the Scottish public to make their own judgements.

He claims much of the document has been copied by the Scottish government.

He asks why the first minister is picking a fight with the UK government over testing.

Mr Ross also asks why the government plans to extend the Covid powers it has at its disposal for a further six months.

He claims Scottish businesses have been left in the dark during the pandemic and asks what consultation with the sector has taken place.

FM wants a phased transition out of Covid restrictionspublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2022

15:08 GMT 22 February 2022

Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

Scientists and policy makers across the UK broadly agree that there needs to be a shift where Covid is less of a burden on the whole population and can be managed in the same way as other diseases.

That means asking people to be personally responsible for isolating if they are ill and at some point scaling back on free and mass population testing that is incurring huge costs.

The difference here in Scotland is at what speed to go.

Vaccines and improved treatments give experts confidence that Covid does not now risk overwhelming the NHS.

But with high rates in the community, and many parts of the world with lower vaccination rates, new and possibly more severe variants are expected.

That means we need a good surveillance system to act as an early warning system. Testing is an important part of that, but you can also do things like monitor waste water or enhance community surveillance schemes like that conducted by the ONS.

The first minister is proposing this sort of transition but wants to see it in a “phased manner”, not in the time frame announced by the UK government yesterday. Nicola Sturgeon wants greater clarity on resources for this before she sets out a plan for Scotland.

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The FM says those who have Covid symptoms should continue to go for a PCR test while everyone else should make use of lateral flow tests.

Advice on the use of lateral flow tests will change from Monday, she says.

Previously people were asked to take one before going anywhere to mix with others – from Monday the advice will be to test at least twice a week, particularly if you are going to a crowded place or mixing with someone who is clinically vulnerable.

LFTs will continue to be free and the Scottish government will keep making self isolation support payments to those eligible.

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Because the Covid threat level in Scotland is medium, the FM says the following actions can be taken:

• Covid passport scheme will end on 28 February, though the app will remain operational
• Face coverings will no longer be a legal requirement on 21 March, but the government will still strongly recommend them in indoor public places and on public transport
• On 21 March businesses, places of worship and service providers will no longer be legally required to take Scottish government-advised measures
• A legal requirement for contact tracing will also end on 21 March

The FM sets out some of the measures that might be used in Scotland if another evasive Covid variant emerged.

She says the Scottish government has guarded against a “one size fits all approach”.

However, it may be that people are asked to limit social contacts for a period and to work from home where possible.

Other temporary measures could be introduced for high risk settings – which recently has impacted hospitality and retail sectors.

There may also be a legal requirement to wear face masks in future, she says.

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Ms Sturgeon details that Scotland’s testing system will continue to involve extensive PCR testing, wastewater sampling and genomic sequencing.

More details will be set out next month.

A UK-wide infection survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics will also continue – this was confirmed by the PM.

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Turning to vaccination, the first minister stresses the importance of getting jabs.

Last week, the JCVI recommended that all five- to 11-year-olds should be eligible for the vaccine.

Nicola Sturgeon says: "I can confirm that vaccine appointments for this age group will issue from mid-March."

She goes on to say: "Yesterday, we also accepted JCVI advice on protecting those at highest risk."

Care home residents, those over 75, and everyone over 12 who is immunosuppressed will be offered an additional booster six months after their last dose.

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The first minister prepares to go into more detail on the revised strategic approach.

She details the change “to manage Covid-19 effectively, primarily through adaptations and health measures that strengthen our resilience and recovery, as we rebuild for a better future.”

Ms Sturgeon explains using restrictions to suppress infection is no longer as necessary as it once was.

She says: "In future we will rely less on legally imposed measures to control the virus - and more on vaccines, treatments, and sensible adaptations and good public health behaviours."

Nicola Sturgeon says she will continue to ask those who test positive for Covid to isolate for the recommended period - for now.

And the Scottish government will continue to make self isolation support payments available to those who are eligible.

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Ms Sturgeon calls for more clarity from the UK government about testing going forward.

The first minister adds: "The Scottish government is determined to retain a robust testing system."

This will provide strong resilience for the country she explains.

Ms Sturgeon says sets out her government's commitment to continued access to PCR and lateral flow testing free of charge.

She also stresses the continued advice that those testing positive should isolate.

The first minister says: "I must express frustration at the position of the UK government.

"It is, of course, for the Prime Minister to decide how best to tackle Covid in England.

"However, current funding arrangements mean that though taxpayers in all four UK nations contribute to the costs, it is decisions taken for England that determine the resources available to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for testing and other Covid measures.".

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Nicola Sturgeon says she expects to lift the legal requirement for businesses, places of worship and service providers to have regard to Scottish government guidance on Covid on 21 March.

The legal requirement on businesses to retain customer contact details is also expected to end on 21 March.

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The Covid certification scheme, which requires certain venues and events to check the vaccine or test status of attendees, will come to an end next Monday (28 February).

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The legal requirement to wear face coverings in certain indoor settings and on public transport will end in Scotland on 21 March.

However, it will continue to be strongly recommended to wear face coverings.

The first minister says she will start with details of the new strategic intent.

"This new approach will see us resort much less – hopefully not at all – to legally imposed protective measures.

"Instead, we will rely predominantly on vaccines, treatments, and sensible public health behaviours and adaptations."

She adds: "We must remain vigilant and prepared."

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The first minister gets to her feet and says the strategic framework for tackling Covid has been published.

Nicola Sturgeon says she will outline the new elements of the framework.

"At the heart of the framework is a desire for and increasing confidence in out ability to achieve a sustainable return to a normal way of life, even as we remain prepared for future threats Covid may present."

What happens if you have only had one jab and are going to a concert?published at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2022

14:13 GMT 22 February 2022

Question from Olivia in Troon

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Everyone attending what the Scottish government deems to be "higher risk settings" is currently asked to show that they have been fully vaccinated.

These include indoor events with 500 or more people; outdoor events with 4,000 or more people; or any event with 10,000 or more people.

As an alternative, individuals can present evidence of a negative Covid test in the previous 24 hours.

Among those who are exempt from the rules are under 18s and those who have a record showing the are exempt from getting the vaccine or from taking a test on medical grounds.

Here are the latest Covid statistics in Scotland as of 14:00 on Tuesday:

• 6,427 new cases of Covid-19 reported
• 18 further deaths of people who tested positive
• 1,060 people in hospital following a positive result

• 12 people in intensive care

As for vaccinations:

• 4,433,160 people have received their first dose
• 4,152,325 have received their second dose
• 3,404,119 have received a booster

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Nicola Sturgeon will shortly unveil the Scottish government's plans for managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first minister will present a new "strategic framework" to MSPs at Holyrood.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all legal restrictions will end in England.

Ms Sturgeon said her aim was to get back to normality while maintaining "vigilance" against future outbreaks.

Her statement could detail when existing restrictions are to be lifted, although the first minister has cited testing and isolation as examples of measures which could continue to help keep the virus under control.

• Read more here
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• Irresponsible to scrap Covid rules, says SNP chief
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