Scotland's route out of lockdown to be revealed
The First Minister says it will be broadly similar to the plan announced by Boris Johnson for England
First Minister will set a new plan to bring Scotland gradually out of lockdown at Holyrood this afternoon.
Scotland's route out of lockdown will not be identical to the UK Government's, but will be "broadly similar'', Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Immediate priorities will be the return of young people to education, sports activities for young people and limited social interaction for adults.
"We know we cannot continue in lockdown indefinitely" - Nicola Sturgeon
Ms Sturgeon said: "We know we cannot continue in lockdown indefinitely and we must plan a gradual phased return to as much normality as possible.
"The restrictions we have put in place are difficult for individuals, families and businesses across Scotland, but they are working - case numbers have decreased, the numbers of people in hospital and needing intensive care are coming down and we are now seeing fewer vulnerable people dying from this horrible illness.
"This means we can begin to consider how, carefully and gradually, we can return to some normality in Scotland.
"Of course, this has only been possible because people across Scotland have worked together and made sacrifices to bring down levels of Covid-19.
Schools and more family contact
"We hope that more children will be able to return to school later in March.
"And we have published new guidance to enable an easing of restrictions on care home visiting from early March.
"Beyond that, giving people the ability to meet loved ones, initially outdoors, is a priority for easing restrictions within the current level 4.
"As we get to a situation where we can move back to a levels approach, with all or part of the country moving down a level, we can start to carefully open the economy again too.
To keep moving in the right direction and avoid setbacks caution will be necessary, which is why the framework will be clear about the need to move in a gradual way.''
Return to levels
The plans will set out an indicative order of priority and proposed phases - with periods of at least three weeks between them - to ease current level 4 restrictions and then return to a more geographic tiered system.
Scotland's route out of lockdown will not be identical to the UK Government's, but will be "broadly similar'', Ms Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister said the data for the nations is different, but the principles of easing restrictions will be the same.
Boris Johnson has said spring and summer in England will usher in changes to make lives "incomparably better'' as he set out a plan to fully ease the lockdown by June 21.
The Prime Minister defended his "cautious but also irreversible'' approach to relaxing restrictions with a four-step plan.
England's key dates
In the first step all pupils in England's schools are expected to return to class from March 8, with wider use of face masks and testing in secondaries.
Socialising in parks and public spaces with one other person will also be permitted from that date.
A further easing will take place on March 29, when larger groups of up to six people or two households allowed to gather in parks and gardens.
But progressing along the schedule will depend on meeting four tests: the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence of vaccine efficacy, an assessment of new variants, and keeping infection rates below a level that could put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
The other points when restrictions may be eased at the earliest are:
- April 12, when shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens may reopen.
- May 17, when two households or groups of up to six people may be allowed to mix indoors and crowds of up to 10,000 in the largest venues will be allowed at performances and sporting events.
- "As soon as possible'' and no later than step three, when ministers committed to reviewing social-distancing guidance that has prevented loved ones from hugging for nearly a year.
- June 21, when all remaining restrictions on social contact could be lifted, larger events can go ahead and nightclubs could finally reopen.