Thread by @theSNP

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "The Scottish Government is required by law to review lockdown restrictions every three weeks.

The latest review falls due today, so I will shortly update the chamber on the decisions we have reached."

NS: "First, though, I will report on today’s statistics and other developments.

Since yesterday, an additional 17 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, which takes the total number now to 18,597."

NS: "A total of 260 patients are currently in hospital with confirmed Covid, which is the same number as yesterday, and as of last night, 2 people were in intensive care with confirmed Covid, which is the same number as yesterday."

NS: "And in the past 24 hours, I'm pleased to report that no deaths have been registered of patients who had been confirmed as having the virus. The total number of deaths in Scotland under that daily measurement therefore remains at 2,491."

NS: "In fact, no deaths have been registered, under this measurement, in the last two weeks.

However, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that every death is a tragedy. I want again to send my condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this illness."

NS: "I also want to give a brief update on the cluster of cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde healthboard area. I can confirm as of now 8 positive cases have been confirmed."

NS: "These are linked to the M&D Pharmacy in Port Glasgow and to an Amazon warehouse in Gourock. I want to thank those businesses for acting quickly and fully cooperating with the guidance and procedures to contain this cluster."

NS: "An Incident Management Team led by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde met yesterday afternoon, and will meet again today."

NS: "They are working with the Scottish Government, Health Protection Scotland and local environmental health teams to trace contacts, and to do everything possible to minimise onward transmission."

NS: "I am grateful to them for their efforts. We will, of course, provide more details as and when they become available."

NS: "I also want to draw attention to an important announcement this morning by the four UK Chief Medical Officers.

This relates to a change in advice for those who test positive for COVID.

Up until now, people who test positive have been advised to isolate for 7 days."

NS: "But because it is thought that the infectious period can last longer, the advice now is that people who test positive should isolate for 10 days."

NS: "Contacts of those who test positive should continue to isolate for 14 days - and quarantine for people who have been travelling from non-exempt countries remains 14 days."

NS: "So this change only affects people who test positive. But it is an important change to guidance, and therefore one that everyone should be aware of.

Let me turn now to our review of the lockdown restrictions."

NS: "The statistics we have been reporting each day for the past three weeks demonstrate the progress we have made.

Incidence and prevalence of the virus are, as of now, at very low levels in Scotland."

NS: "Three weeks ago, we estimated that 1,000 people had been infectious with the virus in Scotland in the week before. Our estimate for last week is that 300 people in Scotland were infectious."

NS: "In addition, our latest modelling suggests that the R number remains below 1.

So our progress is real and substantial, and it has of course been hard earned by everybody across the country."

NS: "But - and I am afraid this is a necessary ‘but’ - the virus has not gone away. It is still circulating in Scotland and it remains highly infectious and very dangerous."

NS: "And that is why I am not able to indicate, today, a move from phase 3 of our route map out of lockdown to phase 4."

NS: "A move to phase 4 would require us to be satisfied that 'the virus is no longer considered a significant threat to public health'.

Unfortunately that is far from the case."

NS: "For that reason, the Cabinet decided yesterday that we will remain in phase 3 for now.

And while we will consider this every three weeks, it is possible that phase 3 will continue beyond the next review point too."

NS: "That decision - and the fragility of our progress against this virus - means that changes over the next 3 weeks, beyond the two significant ones I will come on to, will be minimal."

NS: "However I will give some indicative dates for when we hope additional activities and services can resume."

NS: "Although we cannot move to Phase 4 today, the progress we have made does allow us to make two important changes in the next two week period.

I am very pleased to confirm that from 1st August, we will pause the advice for people to shield."

NS: "For those of you have been shielding, this means that from Saturday, you can now follow the guidance for the general population.

But please be especially careful about face coverings, hand hygiene and physical distancing."

NS: "The pause also means that children who have been shielding will be able to return to school.

And adults will be able to return to work."

NS: "Of course our advice - not simply for shielding people, but for everyone - remains that you should continue to work from home wherever possible."

NS: "And if you are returning to work as a shielded person, please know that guidance is available for you and for employers the Scottish Government’s website."

NS: "This guidance allows you to calculate an individual risk score to help you and your employer make your return to work as safe as possible."

NS: "It was developed by clinicians and occupational health experts, and we have worked with COSLA, trade unions, and business organisations, to make sure it is quickly adopted by employers."

NS: "I know that the pause in shielding will be a huge relief to many.

But I strongly suspect it will also make you feel anxious.

So please be assured that we are pausing shielding now because we do believe it is safe to do so."

NS: "However, if circumstances change, our advice will also change. We will continue to put your safety first.

It’s really hard for those of us who haven’t been shielding to fully comprehend how hard the last few months have been for those of you who have."

NS: "So I want you to know how deeply grateful I am to all you for your patience and sacrifice.

By following the advice, you have protected yourselves, reassured your loved ones, and helped our health and care services immensely."

NS: "Thank you to each and every one of you for that."

NS: "The other major change which I can confirm today relates to schools.

It is a moral and educational imperative that we get children back to school as soon as is safely possible."

NS: "In fact, a key reason for our cautious approach to lockdown easing over the past two months and over the next few weeks, is that determination to drive the virus down as low as possible, and keep prevalence low, so that schools can reopen safely in August."

NS: "I am therefore very pleased to confirm today that schools will return from 11th August.

Given how long children have been out of school, some local authorities may opt for a phased return over the first few days."

NS: "But we expect all pupils to be at school full-time from 18th August at the latest."

NS: "I realise that earlier confirmation of this would have provided more certainty for schools and parents to get ready for the new term – but we had to be very sure that the latest evidence supported this decision."

NS: "Last Friday, the Education Recovery Group agreed guidance to support the safe return of schools.

That guidance - which is being published today - draws on scientific advice from our advisory group on education and children’s issues."

NS: "The guidance makes clear that in general, physical distancing between pupils will not be required while on the school estate, although distance should be maintained between pupils in secondary schools where possible..."

NS: "..provided this does not compromise the return to full time schooling."

NS: "Distancing should also be maintained between staff members, and between staff and pupils."

NS: "The guidance also sets out the risk-mitigation measures that must be introduced in all educational settings. These include ventilation, good hygiene practices, and improved cleaning regimes."

NS: "It is vital for the safe re-opening of schools that these measure are applied rigorously in all settings.

In addition, important public health measures will also be in place for schools."

NS: "These include Test and Protect, and fast access to testing for any symptomatic staff and pupils.

We will also establish an enhanced surveillance programme in schools, which will allow us to identify any impact of the virus on pupils and staff in schools across the country."

NS: "I can also confirm in addition to £45m previously been announced, we will make a further £30m available to support the recruitment of additional teachers.

We anticipate that this total investment of £75m will enable the recruitment of around 1400 extra teachers."

NS: "In addition, will invest a further £30m - on top of £20m already announced - as part of a £50m education recovery fund for local authorities."

NS: "This will support extra cleaning, facilities management, school transport and other practical measures that are vital in ensuring a safe return to school."

NS: "I must be clear at this stage that no-one can absolutely rule out the possible need for blended learning arrangements in future - either nationally or locally - if there is a significant increase in COVID."

NS: "But the current low prevalence of the virus - together with the safety measures we are putting in place - give us as good a basis as we could have hoped for to get children back to school."

NS: "Let me also take the opportunity again to thank children and young people for the way you have coped with this disruption to your lives.

I think I speak for the whole country when I say we couldn’t be prouder of you."

NS: "And I promise will we do everything we can to get things back on track for you as quickly as possible."

NS: "I’m sure none of you will ever forget COVID - but we are absolutely determined to make sure you will not bear the legacy of it later in your lives."

NS: "Finally, I can confirm that we are also today publishing updated guidance for childcare providers that will come into effect from 10th August."

NS: "This new guidance doesn’t represent a return to complete normality for childcare providers - but it reduces the current restrictions on them, while setting out age-appropriate measures to minimise risks for staff, children and families, and communities."

NS: "We know the importance to families of stable childcare, and these changes will help to make that more accessible."

NS: "I’m sure the two main changes we are confirming today - a pause to shielding, and the full time reopening of schools - will be welcomed by people across the country."

NS: "They are significant steps back to a less restricted way of life - and they also support a return to greater normality for the economy too.

But these changes have been made possible only because prevalence of COVID is currently so low in Scotland."

NS: "In fact, in many ways Scotland is in a better position now, in relation to COVID, than I would have dared hope a few weeks ago.

But as I have said already, this position is fragile."

NS: "We’ve seen a slightly higher level of new cases in Scotland in recent days - although some fluctuation is to be expected. And we are seeing clusters and outbreaks - although, again, this is to be expected."

NS: "But the situation around the world and across Europe, and even in England, does give some cause for concern.

And we know from our own experience in late February and early March just how rapidly this virus can take hold and run out of control."

NS: "The fact is if we are not very careful now, then in two or three weeks’ time we could easily be facing here in Scotland some of the very difficult issues we are currently hearing about in the news from other parts of the world."

NS: "It's also the case that we cannot yet fully assess the impact of the changes that have been made over the past three weeks, really significant changes such as the opening of tourism and indoor hospitality."

NS: "And we must also allow some time for the impact of re-opening schools to be assessed before we make further major changes."

NS: "For that reason, only a small number of further changes are planned during the next three weeks and I will now confirm these.

From Monday, routine eye care services - including regular eye exams - can be carried out in community optometry premises, and in people’s homes."

NS: "Counselling services – such as drug and alcohol support groups – will be able to provide essential services, following relevant guidance and with physical distancing. In addition, sports coaches will be able to meet with groups of more than four households in a single day."

NS: "We will also shortly confirm when they can work with larger groups."

NS: "And from 17 August, a wider range of dental care can resume.

In particular, aerosol procedures - which create a fine mist through use of a high speed drill - will be allowed to restart if they are necessary for urgent dental care."

NS: "Those are the only changes that we currently expect to make during the next three week period."

NS: "However, I now want to provide some indicative dates for late August and September, to help businesses to plan."

NS: "Full detail will be available on the Scottish Government website - however, please remember that, at this stage, these dates are indicative and remain subject to change."

NS: "From 24th August, we hope that live events such as concerts and comedy will be allowed outdoors - with physical distancing, enhanced hygiene and restricted numbers."

NS: "We also hope that organized outdoor contact sports will resume for people of all ages.

Also from 24th August, we hope that some other indoor facilities such as bingo halls and similar venues mentioned in the routemap can re-open with physical distancing."

NS: "We would also intend that funfairs and travelling funfairs can reopen from 24 August.

And we hope that driving lessons will resume from that day too."

NS: "We don’t currently expect to implement any other changes before 11th September.

We will, of course, keep this under close review and accelerate further changes if that proves to be possible."

NS: "However, as of now, non-essential offices and call centres should expect to remain closed until at least 14 September, and possibly later. Even then, working from home and working flexibly will remain the default position."

NS: "I know many office workers may miss seeing colleagues - although some might not! - but by staying at home, office workers and employers are playing a vital role in helping suppress the virus, and ensuring our transport network remains safe."

NS: "We hope that further changes will be possible from Monday 14 September. Again full detail will be available on the Scottish Government website. But I must stress again that the dates I am about to set out are indicative, and will not be confirmed until nearer the time."

NS: "For example, we hope that sports stadia will be able to reopen from that day for limited numbers of spectators, with physical distancing in place."

NS: "Some professional sports events may be arranged for spectators before then - with Scottish Government agreement - to test the safety of any new arrangements."

NS: "We also hope that indoor sports courts for some activities can re-open from 14 September, with physical distancing. We will consider whether indoor classes for children can resume earlier."

NS: "And it is our intention that indoor soft play facilities will also reopen from 14 September.

Let me at this point make particular mention of gyms and swimming pools. I absolutely understand and share the desire to see these facilities open as quickly as possible."

NS: "However, the clinical advice I have is that because of the nature of these environments, they pose a particular risk and require a particularly cautious approach."

NS: "For that reason - but to try to give some additional clarity - the indicative date we are giving today for re-opening is 14 September."

NS: "However, I will review this again in 3 weeks and if it is judged reasonable to do so, we will seek to accelerate this to the end of August."

NS: "We hope that entertainment sites and cultural venues such as theatres and live music venues will also reopen from 14 September, with physical distancing in place."

NS: "I know that the challenges these decisions pose for the cultural sector are significant and that this further delay for arts venues will be disappointing."

NS: "For that reason, we are increasing the value of our Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund - which opens for applications today - from £10 million to £12.5 million to provide further support for the culture sector."

NS: "More generally, I am acutely aware that in a statement like this, with a lot of ground to cover, I inevitably make a lot of five second references that have profound implications for businesses and livelihoods."

NS: "Please believe me when I say that I fully recognise the impact of the decisions we are taking. I know how difficult this situation is for those sectors and activities who are facing a long wait before they can resume."

NS: "We do not take any of these decisions lightly - but at present, we are not confident that we can restart all of these activities safely within a shorter timescale. Doing so could risk a resurgence in the virus and undermine our ability to get children back to school."

NS: "Today’s statement is a cautious one, but given the nature of what we are dealing with, caution remains essential."

NS: "We want to open up society and the economy as quickly as we safely can.

But we do not want to have to reimpose restrictions because the virus has taken off again, or shut down sectors that have already reopened."

NS: "That start-stop pattern can be seen in other countries already, and in my view it is potentially more harmful to the economy in the medium to long term, than a more careful and slightly slower approach to re-opening now."

NS: "As ever, the key factor over the coming weeks in determining our pace of recovery will be our ability to keep the virus at very low levels.

And as ever - although government clearly has the central role to play - this depends on each and every one of us."

NS: "So I want to end today by reminding everyone again of the vital importance of FACTS. These are the five golden rules that will help us stay safe even as life gets back to something closer to normality."

NS: "Face coverings should be worn in enclosed spaces - public transport, shops and anywhere else that physical distancing is more difficult."

NS: "Avoid crowded areas - outdoors as well as indoors.

Clean your hands regularly and thoroughly, and clean hard surfaces after touching them."

NS: "Two metre distancing remains the clear advice.

Self isolate, and book a test immediately, if you have symptoms of COVID - a new cough, a fever, or a loss of, or change in, your sense of taste or smell."

NS: "You can book a test at nhsinform.scot or by phoning 0800 028 2816."

NS: "It is because so many people have done the right thing so far, that we are able to pause shielding and reopen schools."

NS: "So please, do not drop your guard now. Every single time one of us breaches one of these golden rules, we give the virus a chance to spread again."

NS: "If we allow complacency to creep in now, it will be deadly, and that is not an exaggeration."

NS: "So instead, I am asking everyone today to make a conscious effort to tighten up our compliance with all of these basic but life-saving measures."

NS: "These are the best ways for all of us to protect ourselves, take care of each other, show our support for the NHS, and ultimately to save lives. Thank you."