Thread by @theSNP

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "Good afternoon. Let me start, as usual, with the daily report on the Covid statistics. The total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 1,122. That represents 7.1% of the total number of tests carried out."

NS: "428 of the new cases were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 274 in Lanarkshire, 105 in Lothian and 97 in Ayrshire & Arran. The remaining cases were spread across the other mainland health board regions. The total number of confirmed cases is now 57,874."

NS: "I can also confirm that 1,052 people are currently in hospital, which is an increase of 36 from yesterday. 90 people are in intensive care. That is 4 more than yesterday."

NS: "I regret to say that, in the past 24 hours, one further death has been registered of a patient who had first tested positive over the previous 28 days."

NS: "It is important though to remember that registration offices tend not to be open as normal over the weekend, so the Sunday and Monday figures are often lower."

NS: "Of course, we also reported 11 deaths on Saturday and one yesterday, so since the last briefing on Friday, 13 additional deaths have been registered, which takes the total number under this measurement to 2,701."

NS: "That of course reminds us again of just how dangerous this virus can be, and I want to send my condolences again to everyone that has lost someone."

NS: "I'm joined today by the Health Secretary. She'll say a few words in a moment about the Scottish Government's revised testing strategy and about preparations for winter. Then she, I, and Professor Leitch will take questions as normal."

NS: "Firstly, though, I will give a brief preview of the week ahead before updating on one particular issue."

NS: "As you'll all recall, on Friday we published our strategic framework for tackling Covid. That framework included the proposed levels that will apply to different parts of the country depending on prevalence of the virus."

NS: "Over the weekend we've discussed the framework with partners and considered further public health advice. These discussions are continuing, as are discussions with local councils."

NS: "There are likely to be some clarifications to the detail of the levels we set out on Friday, so we'll publish a revised version ahead of the parliamentary debate that will happen tomorrow."

NS: "And, of course, we will keep the detail of the levels under ongoing review as the pandemic develops."

NS: "We'll also set out some detail, ahead of tomorrow's debate, on the factors that will guide decisions on which levels apply to different parts of the country."

NS: "Assuming parliament agrees the draft framework tomorrow, ministers will decide later in the week, on advice from the National Incident Management Team and our chief advisers, and in consultation with local councils..."

NS: "..what levels will initially apply in what parts of the country from Monday 2nd November. And I would remind you that, in broad terms, the current restrictions in place in the Central Belt are equivalent to the proposed Level 3..."

NS: "..and those in the rest of the country broadly equivalent to Level 2."

NS: "So for many places there may be no immediate change. For an area to come down a level, we want to see a fall in the prevalence of the virus be sustained, not just seen on one or two days."

NS: "That, I think, is important in giving business stability but also in giving people confidence that we are not going to take unnecessary risks when we start to lift restrictions."

NS: "The next few days will see some important decisions which, of course, will have an impact on all of us."

NS: "I think it's important, for context, for all of us to remember, given how tough all of this is, that these decisions are one Scotland is facing in common with countries across these islands, Europe, and the world."

NS: "Many countries are facing having to impose or reimpose tough restrictions, especially on hospitality, as a second wave of Covid takes hold."

NS: "The purpose of adopting tough restrictions just over two weeks ago here was to try and curb the increase in Covid cases we were seeing, before the virus ran further out of control."

NS: "The daily figures I've been reporting recently, as I indicated on Friday, suggest that these restrictions are starting to have an effect. We do think the increase in case numbers is slowing, but it's not yet in decline - which is why we can't be complacent."

NS: "But we should take encouragement from the daily numbers at the moment, because they suggest that these sacrifices that everybody is making are starting to work."

NS: "Once the new five levels approach is adopted, and once people get more familiar with it - which I know will take a bit of time - I hope people will be better able to understand, on an ongoing basis, the spread of Covid in their particular area..."

NS: "..and also what measures are necessary to tackle it. And hopefully that in turn will underline a key point. The best way of moving to a lower level of restrictions, and living more freely, is to have a lower level of transmission of the virus."

NS: "And the best way, of course, we have of driving transmission lower and keeping it low is for all of us to stick to the rules that are in place at any given time. That, of course, is a collective responsibility for all of us."

NS: "The second point I wanted to briefly highlight today was that two more walk-through testing sites have opened in the past few days."

NS: "On Thursday, a new site opened in the centre of Greenock, in Inverclyde. And on Saturday, a centre opened at the Highland Council headquarters in Inverness."

NS: "That means that, in total, we have 11 walk-through testing sites now open to meet the needs of local communities across Scotland and to try and make access to testing easier for people."

NS: "And I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved in setting up these sites and all those who are helping to run them."

NS: "The walk-through centres are only part of our testing infrastructure, obviously, but as I said, they are an important way to try to make testing more accessible in our towns and cities."

NS: "So we'll continue to work with partners, including the UK Government, to establish more of them in the weeks and months ahead."

NS: "It is possible to book a test at a walk-through site by going to the NHS Inform website. Please remember that though they are walk-through sites, you should seek to walk or cycle or drive to them, but do not use public transport to travel to any testing centre."

NS: "If you don't have a car and you can't walk or cycle to get a test, then you can book a home testing kit through the NHS Inform website."

NS: "Of course, the reason for that is to ensure you don't transmit the virus unwittingly on the way to or from the testing centre."

NS: "I would simply end this part of the update by reminding everybody, again, that if you experience any of the symptoms of Covid it is really important to self-isolate immediately and take immediate steps to get yourself tested."

NS: "Let me end by stressing the other key rules and guidelines that remain in place for now. If you live in Lothian, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley, Ayrshire and Arran and Greater Glasgow and Clyde, you shouldn't travel outside these areas unless you have a clear need to do so."

NS: "And people living in other parts of Scotland should not travel to these areas unless necessary. None of us anywhere in Scotland should be visiting each other's homes just now, except for specific purposes like childcare or looking after a vulnerable person."

NS: "And when we do meet people from other households, outdoors or in indoor public places that are open, for example cafes, we should keep to a maximum group size of 6 from a maximum of 2 households."

NS: "Avoid car sharing if you can, work from home if you can, and remember to download the Protect Scotland app if you haven't already done so."

NS: "Lastly, remember the key rules that help keep us all safe when we are out and about."

NS: "Wear face coverings in public places, avoid crowds of people, clean your hands regularly and remember to clean surfaces too, keep two-metres distant from those in other households and self-isolate and get tested if you have symptoms."

NS: "If we all stick to these rules, follow all of that advice, then hopefully the encouraging signs we are seeing in the figures we are reporting everyday will not just continue but accelerate..."

NS: "..and a slowing of the increase in weeks to come will become a decline in the number of daily new cases. Thank you all very much."