Thread by @theSNP

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "Good afternoon. Thanks for joining us for today’s briefing.

I want to start - as I always do - by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to Covid-19 in Scotland."

NS: "As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14,260 positive cases confirmed - an increase of 143 from yesterday."

NS: "A total of 1,449 patients are in hospital with Covid-19 - 1,066 who have been confirmed as having Covid, and 383 who are suspected of having Covid. That represents an overall decrease of 31 since yesterday."

NS: "A total of 71 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid 19 - which is no change since yesterday."

NS: "I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,290 patients who had tested positive for the virus have been able to leave hospital. I wish all of them well."

NS: "Unfortunately I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 46 deaths have been registered of patients who have been confirmed through a test as having Covid-19 - that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,053."

NS: "As always, I want to stress that these numbers are not simply statistics. Behind every single one of these statistics is an individual, whose loss is being mourned by their friends, family, and all of their loved ones."

NS: "I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus."

NS: "I also want to thank - as I always do - our health and care workers. Once again last night, I joined with people across this country, in the applause at 8 o’clock. It is a small - but I hope powerful - way of showing our appreciation, for your incredible efforts."

NS: "There are of course many other people who are keeping the country going during this crisis. I can’t list all of them every day, but know that my deep gratitude is with all of you."

NS: "Today I want to highlight the role of our telecoms workers and especially our telecoms engineers."

NS: "The fact that we are being forced to stay physically distant from each other, has made many of us rely more than ever on technology - for access to public services, for education, for work and for staying in touch with family and friends."

NS: "The contribution of those who keep all of these systems working, our phone and broadband networks, are so important at all times but particularly at the moment. I want to take the opportunity to say thank you to all of you."

NS: "I’m going to keep my update today very brief.

As you know, the lockdown restrictions - here in Scotland - remain in place. The only change at the moment is to the guidance on exercise."

NS: "That position is based on our assessment of the evidence - and on what we think is right for the protection of people in Scotland."

NS: "However, as I said on Sunday, the Scottish Government is continuing to monitor the evidence closely. And as we hopefully see more evidence of a downward trend in virus - we will then consider further changes, but on a careful and gradual basis."

NS: "When we know that lives are at stake, and we have learned that every day over these past seven or eight weeks, I am going to continue to err on the side of caution. Err on the side of saving lives and reducing the number of people who might die unnecessarily."

NS: "However, I do want to give you as much visibility and advance notice of future changes as possible. And even where we can’t yet give firm dates of when things will open up again, at least share with you the order of priority and potential phasing."

NS: "So next week I will share with you more information on the assessments we are making and the range of options that we are looking at, and any further minor changes that we may make in the short term."

NS: "And, as I have said before, as we make these decisions fairness and quality of life will be important factors.

We are, of course, keen to get the economy moving again - that matters to all of us, not just to businesses."

NS: "But we also have to consider our social interactions.

A life where we go to work but stay locked down with no family interaction for the rest of the time is not one many of us - if any of us - would enjoy."

NS: "So given that we are likely to have for quite a while to come very limited room for manoeuvre - and let me stress that is the case - we will need to get these balances as right as possible."

NS: "That’s why we are paying close attention to the ideas that many of your are taking the time to share with us.

Our considerations will be informed, as we have always said, by the scientific evidence and advice and the clear principles we have set out."

NS: "In all of this, of course, continuing to set out clearly to you why we are asking you to live your lives in such a restrictive way is vital - so that you understand we are not asking you to do so for no reason."

NS: "It is not enough, in my view, for me simply to tell you what I want you to do. I have to explain on an ongoing basis my reasons for it."

NS: "Compliance with any measures we may need to keep in place will, I think, always be higher if I am clear, rational and straight with you about the difficult judgments they are based on."

NS: "On that, I thought I’d share with you today the results of some polling on attitudes that we have undertaken. We do this to check the messages we are trying to convey are being understood and getting across."

NS: "Because, though I’m not complacent about this, it suggests that this understanding between government and you, the public in Scotland is currently very strong. And I want to do everything I can to keep it that way."

NS: "This polling reveals that there is widespread endorsement for the approach that is being taken in Scotland.

84% of you agree with a slow and gradual lifting of restrictions."

NS: "82% of agree that before further significant changes to lockdown restrictions are brought in, the impact of those already introduced should be assessed."

NS: "86% continue to agree that they think decisions on when and how to lift restrictions must be based on saving lives and protecting our NHS."

NS: "So let me thank you for your support. These last few weeks have been a collective endeavour - we’ve all been making sacrifices not just for our own sake, but for each other."

NS: "We’ve been putting those value I keep talking about - of love, kindness, solidarity - into practice.

My ask of you is that we keep doing so. Let me end with this fundamental point."

NS: "The way in which we save lives, but also emerge from lockdown that bit more quickly, is by sticking with the current guidance.

So before I hand over to the Chief Nursing Officer, I want to reiterate - once again - what that says."

NS: "Please stay at home. Except for essential work that can’t be done at home, for buying food or accessing medicines, or for exercising, you should not be going out."

NS: "You can now exercise more than once a day, if you want to. But when you are out, please stay more than two meters from other people and don't meet up with people from other households."

NS: "You should wear a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport. And wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Finally, if you or someone else in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, then you should stay at home completely."

NS: "I know that these restrictions are particularly tough at the weekend, particularly when the sun is out, which is sometimes a rare occasion in our country."

NS: "But they are essential. And crucially, they are making a difference, and I hope you can see that in the statistics.

By staying at home, we are slowing the spread of the virus, we are protecting the NHS, and we are saving lives."

NS: "And we are bringing the time closer, when we can return to some semblance of normality."

NS: "So I want to thank everyone for continuing to do the right thing. I want to thank you for your sacrifices you are making. Please keep doing it, for your own sake, for your family's sake, and for the sake of everybody across the country."