Covid restrictions extended and schools to remain online until at least mid-February

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has this afternoon confirmed that Scotland will remain in current lockdown restrictions until at least mid-February, with a review scheduled for the second of the month.

School and nursery premises will remain closed until at least the same point, and the Government may then look at a phased return.

This excludes vulnerable children and children of key workers.

"The pressure the NHS is facing right now is real and severe"

The First Minister said:

"It's of course having a significant consequential impact on non-Covid elective care"

"The number of new cases in the past couples of weeks also means that this pressure is almost certain to rise for a further period yet."

"We cannot afford to see the rate of infection start to rise again, which from such a high baseline it certainly could do if we start to interact with each other more than we are doing right now."

The First Minister also confirmed that a significant outbreak on Barra means it and Vatersay will move from Level 3 to Level 4.

"Above all I understand how difficult, distressing and damaging it is for children and young people to have their education and their normal interactions with friends so disrupted."

The First Minister said on Schools:

"It is of course a priority for all of us to get children back to normal schooling as soon as possible"

"I know how much work teachers, school leaders and other staff are doing to support home learning - and I am very much grateful for that."

"But I also know just how challenging and stressful this is for families"

"Above all I understand how difficult, distressing and damaging it is for children and young people to have their education and their normal interactions with friends so disrupted."

"However, our reluctant judgement at this stage is that community transmission of the virus is too high and is likely to remain so for the next period to allow a safe return to school on the first of February."

Vaccines

Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that as of this morning 284,582 people in Scotland had received their first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine.

More than 90% of care home residents have had the first dose, and 70% of staff in the care homes have also had the jag.

Nicola Sturgeon expects all over 70s to have had their first dose by mid February and over 65s by the start of March.

The First Minister also commented that the nation is progressing towards vaccinating around 400,000 people a week by the end of February.

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