First Minister insists lockdown is working, with exit strategy expected next week
Nicola Sturgeon was questioned by opposition leaders during a virtual FMQs
Lockdown measures are working, Scotland's First Minster has said, as she revealed hopes to publish a lockdown exit strategy next week.
Speaking at a virtual First Minister's Questions, where she was questioned by the leaders of Scotland's main political parties, Nicola Sturgeon said the plans will be drawn up then shared with the public, with a “framework of decision-making” hoped to be announced next week.
She said her “clear advice” is lockdown measures must continue for at least another three weeks.
The relatively stagnant numbers of Covid-19 patients in hospital and intensive care north of the border indicate lockdown measures are working, she said.
Ms Sturgeon announced 779 people in Scotland have died after testing positive for Covid-19, a rise of 80 from 699 on Wednesday, according to Health Protection Scotland figures.
There are 196 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms as of Wednesday night, one more than the previous day, she added.
Some 1,799 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, up 51 from Wednesday's figure of 1,748.
A total of 7,102 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up 354 from 6,748 the previous day.
The First Minister said: “We do firmly believe that the lockdown is having a positive effect.
“For example, while we still see fluctuations we are not seeing at this stage significant or sustained increases in the number of people in hospital or in intensive care with the virus.
“However, we know these lockdown measures need time to work so we must continue to exercise caution in our predictions, we are by no means through this yet.”
Speaking before she was due to attend a Cobra meeting on Thursday, when a decision on the possible extension of lockdown measures is expected to be made, the First Minister made her position clear.
She said: “My clear advice is that we must continue the lockdown measures for at least another three weeks.
“While we are increasingly confident that these measures are working, we are not yet confident enough that the virus has been suppressed sufficiently to lift any of these measures because the risk of doing that would be a resurgence that would be extremely damaging.”
In response to a question from Scottish Greens co-leader Alison Johnstone, the First Minister said a “framework” on how decisions regarding the exit strategy would be developed, will be made public next week.
She added: “People do want to know what the thinking is for beyond that period. I think sharing the thought processes and the factors we're taking into account and the framework for making these decisions is important.
“I hope, over the course of next week, to not announce all of these decisions because we won't be able to do that, but to set out a framework of decision making.”
The First Minister said the Scottish Government will need to assess the impacts on lifting the lockdown measures on individuals and businesses, as well as what will replace current measures to stop the spread.
She said “test, trace and isolate” will “come to the fore”.
According to the World Health Organisation, this approach should be the “backbone” of any country's response to the virus.
Similar to during the initial phase of the virus in the UK, new cases will isolated and tested, with contact tracing put in place to find those who may have contracted the virus.
Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.