Thread by @theSNP

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "Good afternoon, thank you for joining uys.

I’ll start as usual with an update on the latest figures."

NS: "Since yesterday, an additional 8 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, which takes the total number now to 18,259."

NS: "A total of 785 patients are currently in hospital with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, which is a decrease of 100 since yesterday. That includes a decrease of 11 in the number of confirmed cases."

NS: "You'll recall yesterday there was quite a big increase in suspected cases. Clearly that has gone in the other direction today."

NS: "As of last night, 17 people were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, which is 2 fewer than the number I reported yesterday."

NS: "And since 5 March, 4,071 patients who had tested positive and needed hospital care have now been discharged."

NS: "Unfortunately, in the last 24 hours, 1 death has been registered of a person who had been confirmed as having the virus. That takes the total number of deaths in Scotland under that measurement to 2,486."

NS: "In addition, as is now usual on a Wednesday, National Records of Scotland has just published its more detailed weekly report."

NS: "This publication, like our daily figures, includes deaths of people who had been confirmed by a test as having COVID."

NS: "But it also includes cases where the virus was entered on a death certificate as a suspected or contributory cause of death - even if its presence was not confirmed by a test."

NS: "The latest NRS report covers the period to Sunday 28th June. At that point, according to our daily figures, 2,482 deaths of people who had tested positive for the virus had been registered."

NS: "However, today’s report shows that, by Sunday, the total number of registered deaths with either a confirmed or a presumed link to the virus was 4,155. Of those, 35 were registered in the seven days up to Sunday, which is a decrease of 14 from the week before."

NS: "This is ninth week in a row in which the number of deaths from the virus has fallen."

NS: "Deaths in care homes made up just under half of all Covid deaths last week - and the number of Covid-19 deaths in care homes reduced again, from 20 to 16."

NS: "Finally, and significantly, the total number of deaths recorded last week – from all causes - was 20 below the five year average for the same time of year. This is the first time since March that the total number of deaths has been below the 5-year average."

NS: "In other words, the first time since we don't have a number of excess deaths above that average."

NS: "Last week, it was 46 higher than the average - and 11 weeks ago, it was 878 higher than the five-year average."

This week's statistics again tell of the real and sustained progress we are making in tackling Covid."

NS: "However the numbers also speak of heartbreak for many. We can take some comfort in the trends shown by today’s data, but we should never lose sight of the fact that every single death represented by these numbers is a tragedy."

NS: "I want to send my heartfelt condolences to everyone who is grieving right now as a result of losing somebody to this illness."

NS: "I also want, as I always do, to thank our health and care workers, and all our key workers. We continue to be grateful for all of the contributions that you are making."

NS: "In tomorrow’s media briefing I hope to be able to confirm that we are going ahead with many of the Phase 2 changes that have already been signalled."

NS: "Today I want to highlight a couple of things which demonstrate, in different ways, how the progress we have made in addressing Covid, is starting to allow a very careful return to greater normality - although life should still not feel like normal."

NS: "The first is that from today, our Warmer Homes Scotland programme will resume."

NS: "Warmer Homes Scotland tackles fuel poverty, by giving help to those who most need it, to make their housing more energy-efficient. It therefore cuts people’s heating bills and reduces our total greenhouse gas emissions."

NS: "The scheme’s restart also means that more than 300 staff will be brought out of furlough, so that they can get back to work improving people’s homes."

NS: "Overall, therefore, the resumption of Warmer Homes Scotland is good for employment, for the environment, and for those households across the country whose homes will become easier to heat."

NS: "The resumption is also one further sign – not a huge one, but still a significant one - that public services and economic activity are starting up once again."

NS: "The second issue I want to talk about relates to children and young people."

NS: "Much of the discussion about the changes we hope to confirm tomorrow will - understandably, be around issues such as changes to travel restrictions, and the reopening of some parts of the hospitality sector."

NS: "But we know that this has been an incredibly difficult time for children and young people. It has been very tough not going to school for an entire term, and then being restricted in how you can meet and play with your friends."

NS: "These restrictions have also of course made things more difficult for parents and carers."

NS: "We are therefore keen to make some changes which will help to make this a slightly more normal, and less frustrating, summer holiday for many young people."

NS: "I will confirm more details of that tomorrow. The CMO will also announce some important changes in our advice for children who are shielding – who until fairly recently, had been advised to stay at home completely."

NS: "All of our children and young people have responded incredibly well to an incredibly difficult situation. I am grateful to all of you for that, and I am proud of all of you for that."

NS: "We know how important it is for you to be able to see a bit more of your friends over the summer - as well as being able to go back - I hope - to school in August."

NS: "Tomorrow’s announcement will set out ways in which you can do that – and as a result, it will I hope help you to get a bit more from the summer holidays."

NS: "I want to close by emphasizing our key public health messages."

NS: "In a moment, I'll hand you over to Jason Leitch who has some more information about a cluster of cases that has recently been identified in the Dumfries & Galloway area of Scotland."

NS: "That, as well as being important in its own right, is also a reminder for us, a sharp reminder for us, that Covid is still out there."

NS: "So it's really important that all of us continue to follow the public health advice that is being given."

NS: "I want to emphasise that things like hand-washing, whilst always important, becomes far more important when we all start going out and about a little bit more."

NS: "More important than even these kinds of measures were when most people were staying at home all of the time."

NS: "That's why I ask you to familiarise yourself with the FACTS campaign that we have been running for the past week or so now."

NS: "That summarises the five key things all of must remember and abide by if we're going to be able to keep this virus at bay."

NS: "Face coverings should be worn in enclosed spaces such as shops and public transport. I'll say more tomorrow about face coverings in retail."

NS: "Avoid crowded places. The risk of transmission in a crowded place is high - please don't take that risk."

NS: "Clean your hands and, if you do touch any hard surfaces, clean them thoroughly too."

NS: "Two-metre distancing remains our advice. Lastly, self-isolate and book a test immediately if you have any of the symptoms of Covid."

NS: "Remember those symptoms are a new or continuous cough, a fever, or a loss of or change to your sense of taste or smell."

NS: "Don't wait to see if you feel better. If you have any of these symptoms book a test immediately."

NS: "You can find out how to do that by going onto the nhsinform.scot website."

NS: "If all of us follow these five basic measures it doesn't mean there won't be risks and potential setbacks in the weeks ahead but it does mean that collectively we are minimising those risks..."

NS: "..and giving ourselves the best possible chance of building on the progress we've made in the last three months and not allowing that progress to be squandered."

NS: "So I appeal to all of you to keep following this advice, and to think very carefully each and every time you go out of your house about the things you could be doing that give the virus a chance to spread."

NS: "And conversely, how, by following the advice in the FACTS campaign, you can minimise and remove those risks. My thanks for your cooperation and compliance to date, please, please, keep doing it."