Thread by @theSNP

📺 Watch @NicolaSturgeon's update in Parliament on the COVID levels in Scotland.

👇 Tune in to the live statement from 2:20pm: scottishparliament.tv

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 771.

This represents 8.6% of all tests carried out, and takes the total number of cases to 90,081"

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "1,197 people are now in hospital – a decrease of 11 from yesterday.

84 people are in intensive care, which is the same as yesterday."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I regret to say that in the last 24 hours, a further 41 deaths have been registered of patients who first tested positive over the previous 28 days.

The total number of deaths, under this measure, is now 3,544."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Those deaths figures remind us of the grief that this virus continues to cause every day.

Once again, my deepest condolences are with all those who have lost a loved one."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "With the exception of East Lothian, which this morning moved from level 3 to level 2, the Scottish Government is not proposing any changes today to the levels that currently apply to each local authority area."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The latest data shows that across Scotland, the restrictions in place are having an impact.

The number of new cases across the country has stabilised in recent weeks - and we now have grounds for cautious optimism that COVID numbers may be declining."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "There's also evidence that admissions to hospital and ICU are now declining - though these figures fluctuate.

Independent estimates also place Scotland’s R number at between 0.8 and 1 - which again suggests that COVID infections may now be declining."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "However, the national picture masks some regional variations.

That is why we took action last week to put 11 local authority areas into the toughest restrictions - to try to ensure that case numbers in those areas would fall more markedly."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "At the time, I said that those restrictions would remain in place for 3 weeks, until December 11 - and so there are no changes for those local authorities this week."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "This means that these areas will all remain in level 4."

📍City of Glasgow
📍Renfrewshire
📍East Renfrewshire
📍East Dunbartonshire
📍West Dunbartonshire
📍North Lanarkshire
📍South Lanarkshire
📍East Ayrshire
📍South Ayrshire
📍Stirling
📍West Lothian

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "People living in these 11 areas should stay at home as much as possible until 11 December - and not travel outside their own local authority area unless it's for an essential purpose."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We have also adopted a cautious approach to the levels in the rest of Scotland this week.

Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Moray and the Highlands will remain in level 1. All of these areas continue to have low levels of infections."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, the Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, and Argyll & Bute will remain at level 2."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "There have been recent rises in cases in Aberdeen and Aberdeen City.

But we've been able to largely attribute these to specific outbreaks, managed by local public health teams, and so our judgment is that these don't require a change in levels for now."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Dundee, Fife, Perth & Kinross and Angus will all remain at level 3 for now."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "In East Lothian, I am pleased to say that case numbers have continued to decline.

East Lothian therefore moved from level 3 to level 2 at 6am today."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "But in recent days, we've seen an increase in cases in Midlothian – from 61 new cases per 100,000, to just over 97.

That's still well below the national average – which is currently 130 - but a 50% increase in one week is clearly a source of concern."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Therefore, as a precaution, we have taken the decision that Midlothian should stay in level 3 for now.

I realise that this will be disappointing – especially for businesses which made preparations for reopening, or for extending their hours."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We believe that adopting a cautious approach is preferable to a situation where Midlothian moves to level 2 now while cases are rising, only to face a move back again almost immediately if they continue to rise."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Our approach to managing COVID is not simply about applying different levels of restrictions.

It also involves measures to improve compliance, expand testing and, as soon as possible, distribute and administer vaccines."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Last week, the Health Secretary updated Parliament on our plans for a population-wide vaccination programme.

And yesterday, we heard more good news from the Oxford University/Astra Zeneca clinical trials."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I want to congratulate the team there for the exceptional progress that has been made.

There's no doubt that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.

For now, though, we must continue to do all we can to keep the virus at bay."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The Health Secretary will set out to Parliament tomorrow our plans to extend asymptomatic testing.

We're working with the councils and health boards in Level 4 to develop and deliver targeted geographical testing in a number of communities."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "She will also give an update on our plans to extend testing to designated visitors to care homes, to care at home workers and to NHS staff - as well as the preparations to start testing students through the use of lateral flow devices."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "All students who wish to return home for Christmas, will be offered two COVID tests a few days apart.

I can confirm that the student testing programme will get underway next week."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I would strongly recommend that any student who is due to return home over the holidays gets tested first.

Students should take extra care in the two weeks before travel – for example by reducing social contact and going out only for essential reasons."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The Christmas period is the subject of ongoing discussions among the four UK nations.

I will take part in a COBRA meeting later today, where it is hoped that we will agree a common framework.

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I know everyone has a desire to see loved ones over the festive period.

However, there is also a very real anxiety that doing so could put these we love at risk, set back our progress as a country, and result in unnecessary deaths and suffering."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The arrangements that we put in place for the Christmas period will seek to balance those concerns.

Any easing of restrictions will be temporary, limited, and accompanied by advice on the precautions that we should take to minimise risk."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "And we will continue to ask people to err on the side of caution.

Our overall advice will be for people to use any flexibility carefully and only if they believe it right and necessary for their personal circumstances."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "There's now a distinct possibility that the first vaccines could be administered before Christmas, and that by the spring we will have vaccinated our way back to something closer much closer to normal life."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Although an end to the pandemic may be in sight, we've not reached the end point yet. The winter period ahead will be difficult.

At the moment, COVID is still widespread, highly infectious - and it's still causing heartbreak to families each and every day."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "So while it is hard, we must continue to do what is necessary to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

So please, continue to stick to the rules."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Do not meet in each other’s homes.

If you do meet outdoors or in public indoor places, please stick to the limit of 6 people, from 2 households."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Abide by the travel restrictions that are now law – if you live in a level 3 or 4 area, do not leave your local authority area unless for an essential purpose.

And if you live elsewhere, do not travel into a level 3 or level 4 area."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Remember FACTS – the five rules to keep us all safe in our daily lives."

🇫Face coverings in enclosed spaces
🇦Avoid crowded places
🇨Clean hands and surfaces regularly
🇹Two metre distancing
🇸Self isolate and book a test if you have symptoms

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "By sticking to these rules now, we can protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.

We can protect our NHS. And we can all look forward to the better days that do lie ahead. So please, stick with it."