Social distancing may stay until 2021
The Scottish Government says any easing of coronavirus restrictions will not mean returning to how things were before the pandemic struck.
It pledges an easing of the lockdown measures, brought in a bid to curb the spread of the disease, will be "conducted in a phased and careful manner''.
But the report stresses people will need to "find a way to live with this virus''.
The latest daily figures show a total of 1,120 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 58 from 1,062 on Wednesday.
9,409 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 371 from 9,038 the day before.
There are 148 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, a decrease of seven on Wednesday, and 1,748 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, down 28 from 1,776 on the previous day.
First Minister said the publication of the report was a "first cut'', designed to start an adult conversation''.
She added that the "science will never be exact'' and the Scottish Government will have to make judgments on any measures added or lifted.
She added that some measures could be kept in place for the rest of the year - or even longer: "As we start to lift the restrictions, the real risk is that Covid-19 runs rampant again.
"So a return to normal as we knew it is not on the cards in the near future and it's really important that I am upfront with you about that.
"What we must do is find a new normal, a way of living alongside this virus but in a form that keeps it under control and stops it taking the toll we know it can do.''
The First Minister said that the Scottish Government cannot rule out the possibility of re-applying or strengthening current lockdown measures if cases of the virus grow.
However, Ms Sturgeon said she would be "frank'' with the people of Scotland about what the Scottish Government's thinking is:
"That means, possibly for the rest of this year and maybe even beyond.
"That's why talking about lifting lockdown as if it's a 'flick of the switch moment', is misguided.
"Our steps, when we take them, will need to be careful, gradual, incremental and probably quite small to start with.
"We'll need to assess them in advance and monitor them in action - sometimes, as I said a moment ago, we may even have to reverse things.''
The First Minister said the Scottish Government would also work with the rest of the UK, as well as learn from international examples.
It is "likely'' restrictions on gathering in groups, which have shut down pubs and led to public events across the country being cancelled, will need to continue for some time to come'', the report warns.
Good hand and cough hygiene "must become fundamental habits'', it states, adding "each one of us will have to adapt to this as the new normal, at least until we are sure that we can be more protected by a vaccine or treatment''.
It also warns restrictions might have to be reimposed after they have been lifted - and that this may happen several times.
The report states: "If, after easing any restrictions, the evidence tells us we are unable to contain the transmission of the virus then we will have to reimpose them, possibly returning to lockdown with little notice.
"While we will do our best to avoid this, it is possible that such a cycle may happen more than once until we reach a point when we have in place an effective vaccine.''
It adds: "Our assessment is that now is not the right time to relax restrictions.
"Over the next few weeks, based on the evidence and expert advice, a number of options will be considered - not all of which may be selected.
"These are likely to include the easing of restrictions in a phased manner, opening up different parts of the economy sector by sector, considering different restrictions in different areas dependent on how the pandemic is progressing, and considering options for different groups of the population - as is currently the case with those shielded for clinical reasons.
"It may be that restrictions on some outdoor activity are eased before those on indoor activities - however, all of this will be evidence led.''
"Easing restrictions will not mean returning to how things were before the virus. Physical distancing, hand hygiene, and other critical behaviours will be essential in each sector.''
Here the Scottish Government pledged to work with experts in different sectors "to understand the practical consequences, for example, of what physical distancing would mean for schools and education, transport, business, and recreation''
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