Thread by @theSNP

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "Thanks for joining us again today. I'll start with the usual update on today's statistics."

NS: "The total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 951. That represents 9.6% of the total number of tests and takes the total number of confirmed cases in Scotland now to 66,012."

NS: "385 of the new cases were in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 268 in Lanarkshire, 76 in Ayrshire & Arran and 69 in Lothian. The remaining cases were spread across the seven other mainland health board areas."

NS: "I can also confirm that 1,225 people are currently in hospital. That is an increase of 32 from yesterday. 93 people are in intensive care, which is 12 more than yesterday."

NS: "And finally, no deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours of patients who first tested positive over the previous 28 days, however, as you will recall, registration offices are largely closed on Sundays and so that should be treated with some caution."

NS: "I would, sadly, expect that number to rise again tomorrow."

NS: "And of course, since the last briefing on Friday, 30 additional deaths have been registered, which means the total number of deaths under the daily measurement is now 2,849."

NS: "That total reminds us of the impact the virus has and is continuing to have, and I want again to pass on my condolences to all those who have lost loved ones."

NS: "I'm joined today by the Health Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer. In a few moments, the Health Secretary will talk about care homes and also confirm some additional funding for community-based mental health services for young people."

NS: "I have two issues I want to briefly cover today. In a moment, I'm going to reflect a little bit on implications for Scotland of the UK Government's announcement on Saturday of significant new restrictions for England from later this week."

NS: "But before that, I want to remind everyone that, in Scotland, the new system of levels came into force at 6am this morning. For most people in most parts of Scotland, that does not lead to any immediate or major changes in the rules that were already in place."

NS: "However, there are two points in particular that I think it's worth me noting right now. Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles are now in level 1. That reflects the lower prevalence of the virus in these areas."

NS: "However for the moment it continues to be the case that people in those areas, as is the case in all parts of the country, should not meet up in each other's homes."

NS: "That remains the rule across the whole country and that is an important precaution that is still in place at this time while the virus remains a significant threat."

NS: "The other significant change relates to people in Dundee, which, today, becomes a level 3 area. Most parts of the Central Belt are also in level 3."

NS: "That means tighter restrictions apply, including for hospitality premises. It also means for people in Dundee, as for all level 3 areas, we're asking that you do not travel outside your local authority area unless you have an essential reason for doing so."

NS: "Full detail of the rules that apply at each level are available on the Scottish Government's website, and from today the website now also has a postcode checker - so you can enter your postcode and see the rules that are applicable in your area."

NS: "And that means, if you're in any doubt at all about the do's and don't's, please check on that postcode checker. I hope it will be helpful in enabling everyone to understand and follow the new system."

NS: "It is vital everyone sticks to the rules, that's always been the case, but at this juncture I really can't stress that enough. Please don't try to put your own twist on the rules, or look for loopholes in them."

NS: "It's really important right now that all of us try to keep within the spirit of these rules, and remember what they are designed to do - drive down levels of this virus."

NS: "So please, remember that - and act within the rules to reduce your social interactions as much as possible."

NS: "The second issue I want to touch on is the UK Government's announcement on Saturday of new measures coming into force in England from Thursday."

NS: "I've just come from a Cobra meeting chaired by Michael Gove and attended by representatives of the other devolved administrations."

NS: "The Scottish Government is, as you'd expect, considering carefully any implications for Scotland of the announcements for England."

NS: "And there is one issue that I want to air with you today. As you know, I've tried throughout the pandemic to be as open as possible about the difficult choices we face and the factors we have to weigh up in making those difficult choices."

NS: "So, today, it's important to set out the kind of decision we face over the coming days. Today, as I have mentioned, the new levels system takes effect - and for many, this sees the continuation of tough restrictions."

NS: "When Covid cases started to surge again, we acted quickly, though we've been clear all along that our room for manoeuvre is limited by our lack of financial levers."

NS: "Without borrowing powers of our own in the Scottish Government, we have to rely on the UK Government's financial interventions - and that is true of the other devolved administrations, too."

NS: "Notwithstanding that, in September we took the tough decision to restrict meetings in our own homes, and in early October we put restrictions on hospitality."

NS: "Now, we think we can see some encouraging signs that these restrictions are having an impact. The rate of increase in cases has been slowing down, I think you can see that in the numbers I'm reporting every day."

NS: "However - and it's important to be equally clear about this - the impact is, at this stage, still quite fragile, and we can't yet be sure that it will be sustained or that it will go as far as we need it to go."

NS: "The position - as it is in so many countries across the world - remains very fragile, and obviously, we remain concerned about the rise in hospital and intensive care admissions."

NS: "So we'd be wrong to say we have no concerns about the next few weeks. Clearly that would not be correct. We still face a lot of uncertainty, as all countries do."

NS: "That's why I made clear last week, when I set out the levels that would apply initially, that we might yet have to go further - and that we can't rule out, and shouldn't rule out, a move to level 4 for all or parts of the country."

NS: "And while that decision would never be easy, there is no doubt that the availability of a more extensive furlough scheme, of the kind the Prime Minister announced on Saturday, would make it slightly less difficult - because workers would have more of their wages paid."

NS: "So the decision we have to weigh up in coming days is this one - should we take the opportunity of more generous financial support to step harder on the brakes now, to try to drive infection rates down faster and more firmly?"

NS: "The potential benefit of that would be suppressing the virus further and faster at a time when financial support is available, and possibly opening up a bit more breathing space over the Christmas period."

NS: "Now, ideally, we would assess the impact of the current restrictions for a bit longer before making that decision, and at the very least, wait until our next scheduled review point, which is due next Tuesday - a week tomorrow."

NS: "But here's the dilemma we face - and it's important I'm open with you about it.

At this stage, the indication is that the more generous furlough scheme is only going to be available for the next month, during the period of England's lockdown."

NS: "Now, we continue to press the case that it should be available to devolved administrations whenever it is needed, and I think most reasonable people would think that is the fair position."

NS: "I, with colleagues in the Welsh and Northern Irish governments, have pressed that point at the Cobra meeting which has just concluded."

NS: "But we can't put off vital decisions while we have a debate with the Treasury, because the virus doesn't stop spreading while we do that. That's why I hope we get absolute clarity on that point from the Treasury today."

NS: "Because it matters to our decision-making here in Scotland. If we know furlough is available without limit of time, we might still have to act..."

NS: "..but we could give ourselves a bit more time to assess the situation, and so not take decisions too quickly that would involve more restrictions on people before we've had the opportunity to assess the current situation."

NS: "However, if the furlough situation remains time-limited, we will face having to take that decision more quickly, because we'll be faced with the risk of not acting now meaning we might have to act later, but at a time when the financial support is not available."

NS: "Covid, in my view, is complicated enough - and dealing with it is hard enough - without these unnecessary, additional complications."

NS: "So I am hopeful that we will get some clarity from the Treasury later on, that doesn't mean we suddenly escape tough decisions, but that would mean we'd continue to take those decisions in a proper, measured, timely way in Scotland - taking account of our own data."

NS: "So I wanted to air that with you today - that's the decision we face, and the situation we face over the next few days."

NS: "I intend to speak to other party leaders later today - of course, I will keep Parliament updated over the course o the week and I will update all of you over the course of the week as well."

NS: "Those are the issues I wanted to update on today. To close, though, let me remind everybody of the rules and guidelines that are in place now."

NS: "As I said earlier on, it is so vital right now that all of us comply with these rules to the maximum."

NS: "If you live in a level 3 area, as you know that's most parts of the Central Belt, including Dundee now, you should not travel outside your own local authority area unless it is essential - for work that can't be done at home, for example, or for caring responsibilities."

NS: "And people from other parts of Scotland should not travel into level 3 areas except for the same essential purposes. And, please, we're also asking people not to travel outside of Scotland unless it is essential to do so."

NS: "Abiding by travel restrictions is essential if a regional approach is to be sustainable now and into the future. We must guard against taking the virus from high-prevalence areas to low-prevalence areas."

NS: "Secondly, none of us in Scotland should be visiting each other's homes right now, again, except for very specific purposes - childcare or caring for an older or vulnerable person."

NS: "When we do meet people from other households outdoors or in indoor public places, the maximum group size is 6 from a maximum of 2 households. Please avoid car sharing unless it's essential, work from home if you can, and remember to download Protect Scotland app."

NS: "And, finally, remember the five key rules that help keep us all safe wherever we are."

NS: "Wear face coverings, avoid places with crowds of people, clean your hands regularly and remember to clean hard surfaces as well, keep 2m distance from people in other households, and self-isolate and get tested immediately if you have the symptoms of Covid."

NS: "These rules are about protecting ourselves. They are about protecting those we love, our wider communities, and they are also about protecting the NHS and ultimately saving lives. My thanks to everybody for your compliance. Please, please, stick with it."