Thread by @theSNP

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "Good afternoon, thanks for joining us again today. As usual, I'll give you today's statistics, first of all. The total number of cases reported yesterday was 1,782."

NS: "That is 11.5% of the total number of tests carried out, and takes the number of confirmed cases in Scotland now to 151,548. 595 of today's new cases were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 307 in Lanarkshire, 194 in Lothian and 144 in Ayrshire and Arran."

NS: "The remaining cases were spread across the seven other mainland health board areas."

NS: "I can also confirm that 1,664 people are currently in hospital, which is an increase of 126 from yesterday. That figure means that the number in hospital now with Covid is quite a bit above the peak of the first wave back in April."

NS: "126 people are in intensive care, that's three more than yesterday, and I'm sorry to say that one additional death has been registered in the past 24 hours of a patient who first tested positive over the previous 28 days."

NS: "You will recall, though, that the figures we report on a Monday can often be artificially low because registration offices tend to be closed at the weekend."

NS: "Since the last media briefing on Friday, we've recorded 97 new deaths in the daily figures, and that means the total number of deaths under the daily measurement is now 4,969."

NS: "As always, that total reminds us of the heartbreak that is being caused by this virus, and yet again, today, I want to send my thoughts to everybody who is grieving a loved one because of Covid."

NS: "Now, I'm joined today by the Chief Medical Officer. He will answer questions with me in a few moments. Before that, though, there are a few issues that I want to update on."

NS: "Firstly, let me begin by acknowledging that today sees many teachers, parents, and young people embark on another period of homeschooling."

NS: "There are a range of resources and support available, however I know some of you might be having an issue this morning with Microsoft Teams. This is not an issue that is unique to Scotland, or unique to school, but I understand Microsoft is currently working to address it."

NS: "More generally, I don't underestimate - and I want to be very clear about this - how difficult this is, both from an educational perspective, how difficult this is for young people."

NS: "Not just learning at home, but learning away from your friends. I want, again, to say to all of you directly, thank you for your patience and your resilience right now. You're having the toughest of times but you're coping with it extremely well, so thank you for that."

NS: "It's also really difficult for parents, having to juggle home-schooling with working. So I want to acknowledge all of that today. It doesn't make it easier for you for me to acknowledge it, but I do."

NS: "And also to acknowledge that we will continue to provide as much support as possible, and, again, to thank all of you for what you're doing."

NS: "We all want schools back to normal just as soon as it is safe and possible to do that, and while I can't give certainty on that right now, I want to be clear to you today that getting schools back to normal remains a priority for us..."

NS: "..as I'm sure it is a priority for all of you."

NS: "The next issue I want to cover is vaccination. From today, as you know, we will be publishing daily figures for the number of people who have been vaccinated in Scotland..."

NS: ".so I can confirm today that, as of yesterday, 163,377 people had received their first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine."

NS: "In addition, from this morning more than 1,100 vaccination sites are now operational across the country. These are mainly GP practices and community vaccination centres..."

NS: "..but as our supplies of the vaccine increase, the number of venues will increase further as pharmacies and mass vaccination centres also start to come onstream and be used."

NS: "At the moment though, the fact that GP practices and community centres are now being widely used for vaccination is an important milestone in the vaccination programme."

NS: "I can confirm again that our aim is for all over-80s to have received their first dose of the vaccine over the next four weeks, and for all people over 70 and those in the clinically extremely vulnerable group to be offered vaccination by around the middle of February."

NS: "We are working hard to get through the vaccination just as quickly as possible, because of course it is the main route out right now of the situation we all find ourselves in."

NS: "I'm very grateful to everyone, and there are a lot of people in this category who are working really hard to make all of this possible."

NS: "My next update relates to an announcement that was made earlier this morning about court proceedings. The Lord President has announced that the majority of summary trials in the Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Courts will be adjourned."

NS: "Summary trials, of course, being those which don't have a jury. This step will reduce the overall number of criminal trials taking place during lockdown by up to 75%..."

NS: "..and it means that, from tomorrow, witnesses should assume that they are not due to attend court unless you're contacted by the Crown Office to confirm that the trial is going ahead."

NS: "In the coming weeks, the courts system will focus on the most serious cases - that means criminal jury trials in the High Court and the Sheriff Court will continue."

NS: "Jurors will attend remote jury centres which have been established to create a safe environment during the pandemic."

NS: "In addition, most non-criminal court business will continue, such as online proceedings for important civil and family cases."

NS: "We believe that these changes represent a proportionate response to the recent increase in transmission, and they'll help to keep people safe from Covid while enabling the most serious criminal and civil business to proceed."

NS: "Now, finally, before we move on to questions, I want to confirm a change that has been made overnight to the travel rules for people coming from Dubai.

As you know, our basic travel rule is - don't. Don't travel right now."

NS: "You can't leave the house just now except for an essential purpose and therefore, none of us should be travelling anywhere, including outside Scotland, except for a genuinely essential purpose."

NS: "Anyone who does go overseas must quarantine for 10 days on their return to Scotland, unless they're returning from somewhere on the exemption list or are claiming one of the sectoral exemptions which can apply in certain limited circumstances."

NS: "Dubai was on the quarantine exemption list, but since the 3rd January more than 50 people have tested positive for Covid in Scotland after returning from Dubai."

NS: "Now, let me be clear. That doesn't necessarily mean they got Covid when they were in Dubai but the volume of positive cases strongly suggests that there may well be significant risks attached to travel to and from Dubai right now."

NS: "As a result, it has been removed from the exemption list. This change came into effect at 4AM this morning, and that means anyone who arrives in Scotland, having been in Dubai, must now quarantine for ten days on their arrival or return."

NS: "In addition, we're strongly recommending that people who have returned since 3rd January but before these new rules came into force, should self-isolate until ten days after their return."

NS: "All passengers who've been on flights from Dubai to Glasgow since 3rd January will be contacted in order to underline the importance of that message."

NS: "But of course, the most important message I want to stress is that, unless your trip is for a genuinely essential purpose, it is against the law right now to travel to and from Scotland at all. All of us should be staying at home as much as possible."

NS: "Now, unfortunately, and I mean that, I have to say, it's impossible for me to talk about Dubai today without making some mention of the situation with Celtic football club."

NS: "Indeed, I would anticipate that I may face questions about this shortly. I can't tell you how disappointed and frustrated I am to be facing another briefing that may - though this is, of course, up to journalists - be dominated by football."

NS: "Football and elite sport more generally enjoys a number of privileges right now that the rest of us don't have. These privileges include the right to go to overseas training camps and be exempt from quarantine on return."

NS: "It's really vital, obviously for public health reasons but, I think, out of respect for the rest of the population living under really heavy restrictions, that these privileges are not abused."

NS: "Now, I know that what I'm about to say won't please everyone. Nothing I can say about football ever pleases everyone."

NS: "But as I have said before, I do have doubts, based on how the club itself described it, doubts on whether Celtic's trip to Dubai was really essential. And I have doubts based on some pictures I've seen about whether adherence to bubble rules was strict enough."

NS: "Celtic now have a positive case, and another 15 playing and coaching staff are being required to isolate. Now, as in any situation like this, it is for the footballing authorities to decide whether further action is necessary, and it's for them to consider that carefully."

NS: "But this whole episode should underline how serious the situation we are in right now is, and why everyone, including football, should be erring on the side of caution."

NS: "I know fans of other clubs feel very strongly that the whole of football should not pay the price for the actions of any one club, whoever they may be - and I agree with that."

NS: "But of course, a situation like this does make it essential for us to review the rules, including those around travel exemptions, and that's what we will be doing."

NS: "But as we do I would hope that Celtic themselves will reflect seriously on all of this."

NS: "The overriding message for everybody right now is that we are in the midst of a very severe global pandemic. For Scotland, this is the most perilous and serious position since the start of the pandemic."

NS: "The overriding message for all of us - the one I want to end on today - is stay at home."

NS: "The first point I covered today, the expansion of our vaccination programme, gives us reason for optimism and hope. It shows how, in the coming weeks and months, we can make progress in tackling the virus and move to a point where these restrictions can start to be lifted."

NS: "But at the moment, we are in a really dangerous situation. I hope we'll see case numbers stabilise in the days to come, but that will only be possible - and if we do achieve it, it will only be sustainable - if we all stay at home."

NS: "We already have more people in hospital with Covid than at any time since the pandemic started. That is putting our health service under strain."

NS: "And our current case numbers mean that this pressure will continue in the weeks to come. So all of us must try not to add to that."

NS: "Especially with the faster-spreading new variant, all of us need to do what we can to stick to the rules of this lockdown. That means, first and foremost, only leaving home for essential purposes."

NS: "Caring responsibilities, essential shopping, work that genuinely cannot be done at home, and essential exercise."

NS: "Let me say something very briefly about exercise. When we say 'go out for essential exercise' that's what we mean. To get exercise, to get some fresh air."

NS: "We'll not put limits on that like we did in the first lockdown, but we don't mean, by essential exercise, going on a day trip with other people to the beach or to a park."

NS: "I know that sounds harsh, but it's really important right now that all of us stay at home as much as we possibly can."

NS: "And when you are outdoors for essential exercise, if you are mixing with another household, it must be a maximum of 2 people from 2 households. It's really important that we stop this virus transmitting as much as possible."

NS: "Everybody should be working from home, if possible. I'll say again to employers, if your staff were working from home last spring, they should be working from home now."

NS: "So please make sure that they are able to do so. Finally, just to remind everybody of the FACTS advice that helps stop transmission when we are out and about."

NS: "Face coverings. Avoid places that are busy. Clean your hands and surfaces. Use two-metre distancing if you're talking to somebody from another household. Self-isolate and get tested if you have any symptoms."

NS: "These measures are effective, even against this new variant of the virus. But fundamentally, the most important thing we can do right now is stay at home as much as possible."

NS: "That will protect ourselves, others, our communities, and it will help us all right now to protect the NHS and save lives."

NS: "Thank you, once again, to everybody who is doing that, and let me leave you with a strong message that I hope you will all adhere to and spread to as many people as possible.

Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives."