Thread by @lewis_goodall

Sturgeon says that although there's been a very large reduction in infections in Scotland since the lockdown, that's been slowing and last week there was almost no reduction at at all. Says R might not be much below 1: "It would likely not take v much easing to push it above 1."

FM says that Scottish govt intends to publish a more detailed plan in mid-March on sequencing of reopening. Today is about "overall approach"

FM:"If all goes according to plan we will move back to a levels system from the first week of April"

Says she hopes all parts of Scotland to move out of Level 4 into Level 3 and some places less depending on infection rate

So Scotland moving back to tiers/levels and England not

Sturgeon says she'd hope from last week of April "phased but significant reopening of the economy" including non-essential retail, hospitality and gyms and hairdressers.

Sturgeon says SG will set out in mid-March what they're looking for in terms of data (infections, hospitalisations etc)

Sturgeon says that she hopes that next phase of Scottish school reopening would be from March 15th

From 5th April she says that the hope is that Scottish stay at home restriction will be lifted

Final school return should also taken place

A full month after "Big Bang" English school return

So let differences between the Westminster (England) govt approach yday

-much longer school reopening
-fewer dates beyond April, FM said no point until we have data on reopening schools/more data on vaccines
-Scotland is to return to a tier/level system