Coronavirus in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon to unveil lockdown easing 'route map'
Coronavirus: Scottish lockdown easing to begin next week
(about 1 hour later)
Scotland's first minister is to unveil details of a four-phase "route map" towards easing the country's lockdown restrictions.
Lockdown restrictions in Scotland are likely to be relaxed slightly from 28 May, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm that the first phase of the process could begin within the next fortnight.
Ms Sturgeon made the announcement as she unveiled a four-phase "route map" aimed at restarting society while suppressing the virus.
Progress will be assessed every three weeks, with further phases introduced if it is thought to be safe to do so.
The first phase will include allowing people to meet outside with people from one other household.
The first minister stressed it will be a "very gradual process" to ensure the virus continues to be suppressed.
Schools will not reopen until the new school year begins after 11 August.
And she said the country's "stay at home" rules would remain in place until the first phase of easing begins.
But teachers will return to work in June, with transition support being given, where possible, to children going into Primary 1 or moving from primary to secondary schools.
BBC Scotland's political editor, Brian Taylor, said the next review of the current lockdown rules is due on 28 May and that easing could begin a few days later - potentially on 1 June.
And an increased number of children will have access to critical childcare - which has been provided for the children of key workers during lockdown.
The initial phase would see people from different households being allowed to meet outdoors, so long as they maintain appropriate distancing.
Ms Sturgeon said the first phase of easing will see garden centres and recycling facilities reopen, while some outdoor activities such as golf, fishing, tennis and bowls will be allowed again, as will some outdoor work.
More outdoor activities could be allowed, such as golf, fishing and going to sit in the park, while garden centres and recycling facilities may open and some outdoor work could begin again.
People will also be able to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas, and will be able to meet people from one other household - although only initially in small numbers and while they are outside
Ms Sturgeon will also give more information about how and when schools could reopen - with teaching unions calling for her to rule out pupils returning to the classroom before the start of the new term in August.
Different households should remain two metres apart from each other, and visiting inside other people's houses will not be permitted in the first phase.
The Scottish government has previously said it was "unlikely" that pupils will return in June, as they are due to do in England, and that a phased reopening would be required.
The situation will be reviewed every three weeks, with further phases of easing being introduced if enough progress is being made on keeping the virus under control.
Education Secretary John Swinney told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme it was "inconceivable" that pupils in large schools could all return at the same time, and said the education system would have to be adapted to ensure it was safe to resume.
Some of the easing measures announced by Ms Sturgeon were introduced in England last week, but the first minister said at the time it would not be safe for Scotland to follow the same timetable.
Some of the easing measures likely to be announced by Ms Sturgeon were introduced in England last week, but the first minister said at the time it would not be safe for Scotland to follow the same timetable.
This was largely because the so-called R number - essentially the rate at which the virus is spreading - has been higher in Scotland than in some other parts of the UK.
This was largely because the so-called R number - essentially the rate at which the virus is spreading - has been higher in Scotland than in some other parts of the UK.
However the number of people who are dying with coronavirus in Scotland has been falling in recent weeks, as has the number of patients needing hospital treatment and intensive care.
However the number of people who are dying with coronavirus in Scotland has been falling in recent weeks, as has the number of patients needing hospital treatment and intensive care.
This has given the first minister and her advisers more confidence that any relaxation of the lockdown that was introduced across the UK on 23 March will not lead to a resurgence in the virus.
This has given the first minister and her advisers more confidence that any relaxation of the lockdown that was introduced across the UK on 23 March will not lead to a resurgence in the virus.
She will outline her government's plans in a statement to the Scottish Parliament at 12:30 on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of the announcement, Ms Sturgeon said: "For the time being the advice on staying at home except for essential purposes remains the same.
"But we hope to shortly be ready to start easing the lockdown restrictions and today's route map will outline how we can do that.
"At all stages in this process we have listened to the views of people and organisations in Scotland, and have been guided by the latest scientific advice - and that approach will continue going forward."
The first minister added: "This will be a very gradual process as we monitor how changing behaviour affects the infection rate and we will only be able to move toward easing more restrictions if we continue to work together to suppress the virus."
Dr Poppy Lamberton, an epidemiologist at Glasgow University, said the "lag" between Scotland and England would help the Scottish government to judge the potential impact of easing the lockdown, and whether it will lead to an increase in the infection rate.
Figures released on Wednesday showed that a total of 332 deaths involving coronavirus were registered in Scotland between 11 and 17 May.
This was 83 fewer than the previous week, and brought the total number of deaths to 3,546 since the country recorded its first confirmed case on 1 March.
Care homes have been accounting for more than half of all coronavirus deaths in recent weeks - although the number of residents dying has been decreasing.
The Scottish government has also said it will have 2,000 workers ready to be deployed on a coronavirus testing and tracing scheme by 1 June.
Some will be existing health service staff, while others will be returning NHS workers, with a third group being recruited through an advertising campaign.
A test of the technical systems involved in the strategy is being held in the Highland, Fife and Lanarkshire health board areas.
A similar scheme will run in England - although the plan for Scotland does not include the use of the app piloted by the NHS in England which has already been launched on the Isle of Wight.
