Thread by @theSNP

📺 Watch @NicolaSturgeon's live briefing on Scotland's response to COVID and the latest updates on our vaccination programme.

https://twitter.com/scotgov/status/1359113623667417090

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "There were 822 positive cases reported yesterday - which is 7.2% of the total number of tests.

It means the overall number of cases in Scotland is now 187,542."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "1,618 people are currently in hospital, that's 54 less than yesterday.

112 people are in intensive care - that's 4 more than yesterday.

I'm also very sorry to report that 58 additional deaths have been registered over the past 24 hours."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Every single life lost over the course of this pandemic has been a source of grief and heartbreak - and again, I want to send my deepest condolences to every family who lost a loved one and is grieving as a result."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Later this afternoon, Transport Secretary @MathesonMichael will give a statement to Parliament about international travel restrictions - and in particular, the managed quarantine arrangements for those travelling into Scotland."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "As you know, that's an important part of our overall approach - particularly in the weeks ahead, as we suppress the virus here within our own borders, and seek to mitigate importing it from other parts of the world."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "As of 8:30 this morning, 928,122 people in Scotland have received the first dose of the vaccine.

That's a pretty whopping increase of 61,299 since yesterday, the highest daily figure recorded in Scotland so far, by some distance."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We've now vaccinated virtually all residents in older care homes - the figure now stands at 99.7% - which is so important given the toll this virus took, and is still taking, on our care homes."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "At least 96% of over-80 year olds living in the community have also now received the first dose - again, a really important high uptake to protect the most vulnerable members of our society."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I can also confirm that 75% of those in the 75-79 age group have received the first dose, and so have 37% of 70-75 year olds.

All of these figures confirm that the vaccination programme continues to make very good progress."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We remain on course to vaccinate all 70-79 year olds, and all people with a significant clinical vulnerability, by the middle of February.

We will also have vaccinated many people in the 65-69 year old age group by then."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "When we get to mid February, and when we've reached that milestone of having vaccinated all over-70s and those with a significant clinical vulnerability, we will at that point have to start thinking about conserving supplies for second doses."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We expect, over the second half of February, the vaccine supplies coming into Scotland to slightly dip for a period - and that will be a UK-wide issue.

We will have to think about the balance of vaccines available that are needed for second doses."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Let me stress we still plan to, and are on track, to have vaccinated everybody in the JCVI priority list - all those over 50 and with underlying health conditions - by the start of May."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "For now, and this will continue, the vaccination programme in Scotland is going very well.

Today we have severe weather in many parts of the country - but vaccinations are proceeding as planned today. We had no reports of vaccination centres being closed."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I know that some people might not feel able to make their appointment today due to the severe weather.

Please try to make it to your appointment, but if the weather makes it impossible, you will of course be given the opportunity to re-book."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Your vaccination letter will include the details on how to re-book.

Otherwise, information for the different NHS health boards is available on the nhsinform.scot website.

Alternatively, you can call the vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "There's also one other issue I want to highlight.

Unfortunately, we are becoming aware of some scam emails and messages which are being sent out about vaccine appointments."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I want to emphasise the fact that the COVID vaccine is free to everybody in Scotland.

That means that NHS Scotland will never, ever, ask you to share your bank details or to ask you to pay for vaccination."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "So on no account should you ever share your bank details in order to, as the scammers would tell you, confirm a vaccination appointment.

In addition, NHS Scotland is not using email to contact people - so if you receive an email, it will be a fake."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "NHS Scotland is contacting people by phone or letter to arrange vaccinations - and the majority of appointments now are by letter.

NHS Scotland will never turn up unannounced at your door to arrange a vaccination."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Finally, if you're unsure about a message you have received in relation to vaccines, you can contact the vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.

If you want to report a bogus caller, you can contact the police on 101."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I also want to briefly talk about the @scotgov support for childminders over the course of the pandemic.

As we know, childminders are a very important of the childcare sector and the service they provide is valued by many families across the country."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We know that many are fearing for the future of their businesses, but we also know that we will need qualified childminders and the support and care they provide for people.

I can say we are now increasing the support fund by £2.2 million."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Before I finish, let me emphasise again the importance of the lockdown current restrictions.

They are working. Case numbers are falling, week by week.

The number in hospital is also starting to stabilise and reduce. Things are going in the right direction."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "As we slow down the virus through the difficult steps we're taking, we're also significantly speeding up the vaccine programme.

All of that is good news - but for all that progress, we know the NHS remains under pressure and case numbers are still too high."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We also know that the new variant, which is more infectious, now makes up around 75% of all cases in Scotland.

All of that means we cannot, and we must not, rest on our laurels.

We've got to make sure we continue to stick with these restrictions."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Stay at home, except for essential purposes. And when you are out, remember FACTS."

🇫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