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 14,655 positive cases confirmed - an increase of 61 from yesterday."

NS: "A total of 1,447 patients are in hospital with Covid-19 – 969 who have been confirmed as having Covid, and 478 who are suspected of having Covid. That represents a total increase of 20 from yesterday, but within that a decrease of 36 in the number of confirmed cases."

NS: "A total of 59 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid 19. That is a decrease of 4 since yesterday."

NS: "I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,408 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, 29 deaths have been registered of patients who had been confirmed through a test as having Covid-19 – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,134."

NS: "Tomorrow we will have the latest publication from National Records of Scotland, which includes not only those who have died having tested positive but all those deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on a death certificate."

NS: "As always, I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost and is grieving for a loved one as a result of this virus."

NS: "I also want to thank – as I always do - our health and care workers. The whole of Scotland is grateful to you for the extraordinary work that you are doing."

NS: "I have two items I want to update you on today.

The first relates to the publication this morning of Scotland’s employment figures for the period from January to March of this year. These are the first figures to include any of the period of the Covid-19 crisis."

NS: "They show that 113,000 people in Scotland are now unemployed – up from 99,000 in the previous three months."

NS: "That is an unemployment rate of 4.1%. That is actually still a relatively low rate by historical standards - but of course these figures, since they only go up to the end of March, do not reflect the full impact of the pandemic."

NS: "They do further demonstrate the need to carefully get our economy moving again as quickly as we can do safely. And it underlines the continuing need for action to support the economy, and to help people keep their jobs or to enter or re-enter the workforce."

NS: "We know that the essential public health measures taken to deal with this public health emergency, are in themselves creating an economic emergency."

NS: "And although the Job Retention Scheme has offered some relief to many employers and employees, I am aware that many people will be deeply concerned about the future of their livelihoods."

NS: "That is why we have already allocated more than £2.3 billion to support businesses and protect people’s livelihoods, and it is why we welcome many of the measures taken by the UK Government - including the Job Retention scheme."

NS: "In addition, Skills Development Scotland – as I discussed on Thursday – has expanded its support for people seeking training or employment by establishing a phoneline and online service."

NS: "The new online service - which highlights links to free courses which are available - has received 120,000 visits since it launched just over three weeks ago."

NS: "Today we are taking further action to tackle the employment challenge created by Covid.

Our Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board – which was established two and a half years ago – will co-ordinate rapid action across our enterprise and skills agencies."

NS: "In doing so, it will ensure that our actions now help to equip people with the skills they need for the future. It will report back to us in June on what additional measures we need to take."

NS: "However I can confirm today that the Scottish Government is investing a further £33 million to support people back to work as we gradually get the economy opened up again."

NS: "This initial funding – most of which will be allocated to Fair Start Scotland, our devolved employability service - will have a particular focus on helping those most adversely affected in times of economic downturn - young people, disabled people and lone parents."

NS: "Today’s announcement is one further action among many in our efforts to tackle the economic impacts of Covid-19. But it is an important one."

NS: "We know from previous recessions that the longer people stay jobless, the greater the chance of further impacts – their skills can deteriorate, their confidence can fall, and that in turn can have an impact on their future prospects."

NS: "We also know that these effects are of course bad for individuals – especially young people – and that they are also damaging for the economy as a whole. They means that when an upturn comes, employers find it more difficult to hire the people they need."

NS: "For all of these reasons, we are determined to protect Scotland’s workforce, to minimise - as far as is possible - the increase in unemployment, and to ensure that we are ready for a sustainable recovery. Today’s actions represent a further step in helping us to do that."

NS: "The second issue I want to talk about relates to the fact that this week is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year’s theme is kindness."

NS: "In many ways, that’s especially appropriate. Kindness should be one of the core values of any good society. And, as I suspect most of us have experienced in recent weeks, even small acts of kindness can make a huge difference to the way someone is feeling just now."

NS: "We have been aware throughout this crisis of the impact that Covid-19, and our lockdown measures, are likely to have on people’s mental health."

NS: "That is why we have expanded NHS 24’s telephone and online services to support mental health, it’s why we established a National Wellbeing Hub to support the mental health of NHS and social care staff, and it’s also why we launched the “Clear Your Head” campaign."

NS: "Clear Your Head provides practical advice on how to stay active, keep connected with friends and family, and create healthy routines to help get through the crisis."

NS: "Today we are making a further investment to support the mental health and wellbeing of parents and carers."

NS: "Solihull Online is a programme that helps parents and carers to learn about their child, and to develop nurturing and supportive relationships."

NS: "From today, all parents and carers in Scotland will have access to the programme - if you are interested in this, you can find more information by going to ParentClub.scot."

NS: "The final point I want to make, is that one of the most important things to remember during Mental Health Awareness Week, is that it’s okay not to feel okay – and that help is available if you need it."

NS: "You can speak to someone if you need to, and I would encourage you to do so. The Clear Your Head website – clearyourhead.scot – brings together our information about support for mental health."

NS: "So please have a look at the website during Awareness Week. And please, continue to show kindness to each other, as we get through this crisis together."

NS: "Before I hand over to the CMO, I want to emphasise once again our key public health measures.

On Thursday, we will publish a roadmap, setting how on a phased basis, we will ease the lockdown while continuing to suppress the virus."

NS: "My hope and intention is that we will take the first concrete steps on that journey next week.

But, we will increase both the likelihood and the extent of that by sticking to the rules now."

NS: "Please stay at home except for essential purposes- such as daily exercise, going to essential work, or buying essential items."

NS: "You can now exercise more than once a day – but when you do leave the house, stay more than 2 metres from other people. And do not meet up with people from households other than yours."

NS: "Please think about wearing a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport. And wash your hands thoroughly and regularly."

NS: "Finally, if you or someone else in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, then you should stay at home completely. Those symptoms are a high temperature, a persistent cough, or a change or loss of smell or taste."

NS: "For now, these restrictions remain essential.

They are helping us to slow the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS, and to save lives.

So thank you once again, to everyone who is doing that."