The first minister says the focus is to reduce the demand at its peak and to increase the capacity of the NHS as much as possible.

Ms Sturgeon adds this is not just asking people to do things for a week or two weeks.

Trust and understanding are key to ensuring compliance from the public.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she is not privy to the advice that has led to measures being instigated in Ireland, and she won't second guess those decisions.

Ms Sturgeon says we will give proper accurate detailed advice to different groups in Scotland

Schools, colleges and other public facilities in the Republic of Ireland are to close in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said the measures take effect from 18:00 on Thursday until 29 March.

He said that Northern Ireland and the UK would be briefed on developments.

The first death linked to coronavirus in Ireland - involving an elderly woman with underlying health conditions - was announced on Wednesday.

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Ms Sturgeon says we will give proper, accurate, detailed advice to different groups in Scotland

Making sure that advice is right is important, she explains.

Ms Sturgeon says for people who already have suppressed immune systems there is advice.

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood says for some people the advice will be to stay at home for many months, but "we don't want to give" the wrong advice to the wrong people.

There will be advice for people with different conditions in the coming days, she adds.

Further advice concerning elderly people may come in the days ahead, says the first minister, but at the moment the measures apply to everyone.

Ms Calderwood adds that bringing in measures for certain sectors of the population too early would have too many downsides in the long term.

The first minister is questioned on why it is appropriate for 50,000 people to go to a football match - the Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers - on Sunday.

The first minister explains the scientific advice is being followed in terms of sporting events.

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood says the decision today for people with symptoms of the coronavirus to stay at home follows Who advice.

Dr Calderwood explains this is social distancing and further measures could be brought in soon.

Ms Sturgeon says she understands the interest in mass gatherings, but the most important advice today is to stay at home if you have symptoms.

Plans are in place to double capacity, says the first minister. There are 200 to 300 beds right now.

There are also plans to increase capacity in hospitals in general, as well as in the community.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman adds more details will be outlined in the ministerial statement on Covid-19 on Tuesday.

The first minister says it may not be long before non-urgent elective treatments need to be cancelled.

She explains most of these measures will be consistent across the UK, but the mass event ban is one where the Scottish government is going a slightly different way.

The advice on schools is a UK wide one, the first minister adds.

Ms Sturgeon says if we get to a position where schools need to be closed it will not be a short-term measure.

This is a Scottish government response, she says.

"I have to take the decision that I judge to be right for public health and public services."

Ms Sturgeon says the government will provide clear, transparent information for the public.

She adds that there is "progressively" going to be a situation where the emergency services are under acute pressure, which is why the mass event ban is being put in place.

The first minister says the Scottish government has decided that from the start of next week mass gatherings of 500 or over will be cancelled.

Nicola Sturgeon says it will not have a significant impact on the spread of the virus, rather it is for the consistency of public messaging.

She says it is inconsistent to have a business as usual message.

However, the more important point is that certain events have an impact on our emergency services, she explains.

The first minister points out it is incumbent on government to remove unnecessary burdens on the emergency services.

The first minister says the foreign office will give advice that school trips should not go ahead.

Ms Sturgeon says it is not the advice right now that schools, colleges and universities should close but it will be kept under close review.

She explains the hand hygiene protocols can be followed in schools.

The advice to close schools would last until the summer period, therefore it is important not to do it earlier than the science says we should, she adds.

The first minister says much of the focus in the weeks to come will be about how to protect the vulnerable.

Ms Sturgeon says there is a change in the advice being given to the general public

From tomorrow if you have symptoms indicative of coronavirus you should stay at home and self-isolate, she says.

Those symptoms are specifically a fever or persistent cough.

If the symptoms don't clear up you should simply stay at home and not everyone will be tested for coronavirus.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she will give updates that have arisen from the Cobra meeting just concluded.

There are 60 confirmed cases of coronavirus, which is a sharp spike.

There are are a further two cases of community transmission and now we have moved from a contain phase into a delay phase.