Thread by @theSNP

📺 Watch @NicolaSturgeon's live press briefing on COVID and Scotland's vaccination programme.

https://twitter.com/scotgov/status/1363824635993870338

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "There were 715 positive cases reported yesterday, which was 6.6% of the total number of tests.

It means the overall number of cases is now 198,184."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "1,141 people are currently in hospital, which is a slight increase of 9 from the figure we reported yesterday.

99 people are currently in intensive care - no change from the position yesterday."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "No additional deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, but of course the figures reported on a Monday are often artificially low because of registration offices usually being closed at the weekend."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Since the update on Friday, 34 new deaths have been recorded - which takes the total number of deaths under this measure to 6,950.

Again, I want to send my condolences to everybody who is grieving the loss of a loved one."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Firstly, an update on the vaccination programme.

As of 8:30 this morning, 1,445,488 people in Scotland have received the first dose - that's an increase of 13,546 since yesterday."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "As you know, we've had slightly lower supplies of the vaccine in recent days, which is why the daily number has gone down - but we expect to see it ramped up in the weeks to come."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Uptake in all initial priority categories, which are JCVI categories 1 to 4, has been extraordinarily high.

For example, we've now given a first dose to 96% of 70-74 year olds - and an even higher proportion to 75-79 year olds."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We are well on track to have offered the vaccine to all 65-69 year olds, which is JCVI priority group 5, by early March."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "This week, we are also now starting to vaccinate people with the first dose in priority group 6 - including people with certain underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or a severe or profound learning disability."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Priority group 6 also includes unpaid carers, who often need to spend time in close proximity to vulnerable people.

It's important to stress that group 6 is the largest we have included at this point - it will include approximately 1 million people."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Because of that, it will take some weeks to provide first doses to everyone in that group - so if you don't receive an appointment letter this week or next week, I ask you not to worry. It will get to you as quickly as possible."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "It is likely that the first people to be invited will include people with the underlying conditions identified by the JCVI, who are also on our flu vaccine list.

They will be invited at the same time as unpaid carers who receive carers’ benefits."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Carers who do not receive specific benefits for carers, and who have not been identified by GPs, will be asked to come forward to register for their vaccine at a later date.

I expect this to be in early March."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Edinburgh University has this morning published the results of a study showing that by the 4th week after getting a first dose, the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalisation from COVID by 85% and 94% respectively."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The results of this study is exceptionally encouraging news and it hope it gives us all the real hope and optimism for the future."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The final point I want to highlight is that there will not be a media briefing tomorrow.

Instead, I will give a statement to Parliament at around 2:20pm."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "That statement will set out the Scottish Government’s current thinking on the overall state of the pandemic, and will provide details of the revised strategic framework document that is being published tomorrow."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The framework will not set out hard and fast dates for the easing of restrictions.

As I said last week, it is important that we are driven by data more than by dates."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "It will, however, set out an indicative order of priority and the likely phasing of gradual lifting of current lockdown restrictions and then, in due course, a return to the levels system when we would expect more of the economy to start opening up."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "As part of this, we will again be clear about priority we place on the education of our young people.

That priority is of course clear today, as many children in early education, childcare and P1-3 are going back to nurseries and schools."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "I hope that all of those children enjoy seeing their friends and teachers in person again.

And I would like to thank all childcare and education staff, and their leadership teams - for all the work they have done to prepare for today."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "Today is an important milestone and will be a great relief to many parents across the country.

And it has been made possible by the sacrifices we have all made to bring case numbers down."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "We hope that more children will be able to go back to in-school education next month, but our ability to do that depends on our ability to continue suppressing the virus.

Over time, vaccination will play a bigger and bigger role in allowing us to do that."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "All of the early indications about the impact of vaccination are positive.

But for the moment, the most important thing we can do to keep the virus under control, is to continue following the current rules and guidelines."

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "The most important rule of all remains a very clear one - stay at home, except for essential purposes."

🏠 Don’t meet up with other households indoors.
🌳 Don't meet up with more than one other person outdoors.
💻 Work from home if you can.

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "When any of us leave the house, remember FACTS to keep yourself and each other safe."

🇫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