Thread by @theSNP

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "Hello, everybody. Thanks for joining us again today. I will give you, first of all, the usual daily statistics report. 1,480 cases were reported yesterday as positive. That represents 6.9% of the total number of tests carried out yesterday."

NS: "The total number of confirmed cases is now 169,699. Today's new cases, 427 of them were in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 273 in Lanarkshire, 166 in Lothian. The remaining cases were spread across the 11 other health board areas."

NS: "I can also tell you that, by 8:30am, 358,454 people had received their first dose of the vaccine. In addition, I can report today that 2,053 people are currently in hospital. That is 49 more than yesterday."

NS: "161 people are in intensive care. That figure is unchanged from yesterday."

NS: "I'm also extremely sorry to report that 71 additional deaths were registered over the past 24 hours - these of patients who had first tested positive in the previous 28-day period."

NS: "That means the total number of deaths under the daily measurement is now 5,628. As it always is, that figure is a really sharp reminder of just how devastating this virus can be for some of those who get it, and for the families affected."

NS: "I want again, today, to say to every family who is in this position that our thoughts are very much with you."

NS: "Now, I'm joined today by the Chief Nursing Officer, who will help me to answer questions shortly. Before that, though, there are three issues I want to cover.

The first is about some extra support we're providing to our health and social care workforce."

NS: "Throughout the pandemic, everybody would agree with this, our health and care workers have done a truly outstanding job in the most difficult and stressful of circumstances that it is possible to imagine."

NS: "And of course the stress that they face, the pressure they face can be seen in the figures I'm reporting every day right now. It is severe and it is acute. I'm hugely grateful to each and every one of them."

NS: "I'm very confident that I say that on behalf of literally every person across the country."

NS: "We have done what we can to support the wellbeing of health and social care staff as they have carried out their work. In May, you might recall, we launched a National Wellbeing Hub which is there to provide online support for health and care workers and their families."

NS: "We've also established a 24/7 wellbeing helpline, again, dedicated to health and care staff. Today, I am announcing a further measure which will give staff, I hope, a little bit extra practical support."

NS: "We're allocating an additional half a million pounds to health boards and health and social care partnerships. That money will be available to help address issues which have been raised directly by health and social care workers."

NS: "For example, some of it could be used to help provide workers with free hot drinks and snacks when they're on shift."

NS: "I know that probably sounds like quite a small thing, and in some ways it is, but it has been flagged up to us as being important in helping workers to rest and recover during the break times they get during shifts."

NS: "And of course, sometimes, in all walks of life, it can be the little things that help quite a lot."

NS: "So I'm flagging this up today just as a way of underlining just how much we owe our health and care workers but also as an example of what we're trying to do to support them in practical ways while they continue to perform such an incredible service for all of us."

NS: "I don't think we will ever be able to repay those on the frontline of health and social care for everything they have done, and everything they have suffered over the duration of this pandemic..."

NS: "..but in every way we can, it's important to support them and to show our gratitude."

NS: "The second issue I want to refer to in part relates to the economic impact of Covid. Many families right now are struggling to make ends meet, because of disruption to jobs. Many will have lost jobs."

NS: "And this is a difficult time financially and economically for many. What we know is that that difficulty people will have been facing is increasing, and the further measures introduced during this lockdown will have increased that further."

NS: "So today I want to highlight an additional source of support that will soon be available to many parents and carers."

NS: "It's something that was planned before the pandemic, so it's not as a result of the pandemic, but I think the importance of it is even greater given what everyone is living through right now. I'm referring to the new Scottish Child Payment."

NS: "The Scottish Child Payment is designed to help families who are struggling financially, those on the lowest incomes."

NS: "You're eligible for it if you receive certain tax credits and benefits and it will be worth an additional £40 every four weeks."

NS: "Initially, it's payable for every child under the age of 6. In the fullness of time we will roll it out to all children but, in the initial stages, it's available for children under 6."

NS: "To date, since applications opened, we've received over 63,000 applications for the new payment. The reason I'm flagging it up today is to hopefully reach anybody who might be eligible, who hasn't yet applied."

NS: "If you apply in good time, you can ensure your payments are calculated from the start date, which is the 15th February."

NS: "If you want to find out more - perhaps you want to check if you might be eligible, or if you already know you're eligible and want to apply because you haven't already done so, you can go to the website, mygov.scot/benefits, or call this number: 0800 182 22 22."

NS: "We believe the Scottish Child Payment will be a game-changer in the fight against child poverty. That's something campaigners against child poverty have also said."

NS: "In the coming weeks, we hope it will help provide families who've been hardest hit by the pandemic with some much needed financial support."

NS: "Now, the final issue I want to cover today is in relation to one of the very few settings where people will, right now, still be coming into contact with each other, and of course, that's food retail premises. Supermarkets, for example."

NS: "Throughout the pandemic, food retailers and food retail staff have gone to great lengths to keep their shelves stocked and to keep customers as safe as possible."

NS: "I want to take this opportunity to thank all of them, and indeed everyone working in our food industry, for helping to keep the country going. It is much appreciated."

NS: "But I know those who work in supermarkets and other essential retail outlets are having to go to work every day. It's not an easy time for you. If you are one of them, or if you know someone who's in that category, please convey my thanks to them."

NS: "Shopping for food is, right now, one of the few reasons why we should be leaving our homes right now, but it is important to remember that, just like any other reason that we leave home, it's not risk-free."

NS: "The new variant, as we know, is spreading faster and more easily, so it's all the more important that, when we do go to a shop right now, as is essential, we do take the necessary precautions and we are really rigorous in taking those precautions."

NS: "So I want to just take a moment today to set out some of the key points that will help all of us to stay safe when we're shopping."

NS: "On many of these points, people send an email to me if they perceive that these things are not always being followed when they are out shopping..."

NS: "..so it's a moment to remind people of all the things you should be doing to keep yourselves and others safe, if you're going to a supermarket, a butcher's, a baker's shop, or ever just your local corner shop."

NS: "Firstly, try to limit the number of times you go shopping right now. If you, in normal times, went shopping two or three times a week, see if you can limit that to once a week right now."

NS: "Where possible, order online. If you do go to a shop and it's busy, don't go in - try somewhere else or decide to go back at a less busy time."

NS: "Shop alone if you can. That's a really important piece of advice. Don't go with other people. If that's not possible, if you need help to do your shopping, try to make sure you keep the group you're with as small as possible."

NS: "Bear in mind that some retailers are now promoting a one shopper, one trolley policy in order to reduce the time spent in shops."

NS: "Sanitise your hands when you're going in and leaving a supermarket. Most supermarket premises will have sanitising stations at checkouts, entrances, and exits."

NS: "Remember to maintain two-metres distance at all times. I know how difficult that is, particularly when you're trying to get your shopping from the shelves."

NS: "But if there are people standing in front of you, or in front of items that you want, don't lean over them to try to reach those items..."

NS: "..and when you're queueing, just try to remember to keep two-metres distance from the person in front of you, or the person who might be behind you."

NS: "Be patient, if you have to wait a bit longer. Show consideration for shop staff and for other customers. And at all times follow the FACTS guidance. That includes, of course, wearing a face covering."

NS: "Unless you're exempt for a specific reason, face coverings must be worn in all food retail premises. Remember, your face covering should be over your mouth and your nose."

NS: "That's really vital to make sure it's giving you the protection it's designed to do but also it's giving the people around you maximum protection as well."

NS: "All these rules and guidelines are really difficult to follow. They are a real pain in the neck for everybody. But they are really, really important, so I would urge everybody to follow them."

NS: "If we do so, we can make shopping a safer experience, and help our food retailers as they carry out their essential work. It is another way we can all act to keep each other safe."

NS: "I think everybody is trying really hard right now - the vast majority of people are trying really hard. The vast majority of people are abiding by all of the rules and regulations, and I can't ever tell you how I grateful I am to everybody for that."

NS: "But I think all of us know that we just occasionally need to remind ourselves, when we're out and about doing essential things, of the things that help to keep us safe."

NS: "Given that food shopping is one of the reasons why many of us, maybe the only reason some are out of their house right now, it's an area where we need to be particularly careful."

NS: "Those are the main issues I wanted to cover today. Before I close, let me just remind everyone that we should all be staying at home as far as possible right now."

NS: "Only leave home for essential purposes - essential shopping, as I've just been talking about, if you've got caring responsibilities, for exercise and fresh air, if you do work that can't be done at home."

NS: "If you're meeting up with others outdoors, that should only be with one other person from one other household. So if you're mixing households, it should be no more than 2 people in any mixed household group."

NS: "Work from home if you can, as I've said, and remember the FACTS advice. Face coverings, avoid places that are busy, clean your hands and hard surfaces, use two-metres distancing and self-isolate and get tested if you have symptoms."

NS: "All of these things are important for any occasions when we need to be out right now, but the most important thing all of us can try to do as much as possible is stay at home."

NS: "I'll leave you with that overarching advice we're giving everyone right now.

Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.

My grateful thanks to all of you for doing exactly that."