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| Scotland's roadmap out of lockdown unveiled | Scotland's roadmap out of lockdown unveiled |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The reopening of Scotland's economy - including shops, bars, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers - is expected to start in the last week of April, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. | The reopening of Scotland's economy - including shops, bars, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers - is expected to start in the last week of April, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. |
| She said there would be a "progressive easing" of restrictions before then, with four people from two households allowed to meet outdoors from 15 March. | She said there would be a "progressive easing" of restrictions before then, with four people from two households allowed to meet outdoors from 15 March. |
| All primary and more secondary school pupils could return from that date. | All primary and more secondary school pupils could return from that date. |
| It is hoped to lift the stay at home restriction on 5 April. | It is hoped to lift the stay at home restriction on 5 April. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government's strategic framework was "deliberately cautious" at this stage. | Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government's strategic framework was "deliberately cautious" at this stage. |
| Live coverage of the first minister's statement | Live coverage of the first minister's statement |
| Is vaccination slowing Scotland's Covid death rate? | Is vaccination slowing Scotland's Covid death rate? |
| Covid deaths falling as vaccine 'having an effect' | Covid deaths falling as vaccine 'having an effect' |
| "But in the coming weeks, if the data allows and positive trends continue, we will seek to accelerate the easing of restrictions," she said. | "But in the coming weeks, if the data allows and positive trends continue, we will seek to accelerate the easing of restrictions," she said. |
| However, opposition parties said the statement "fell short" of expectations and lacked clarity on its "ultimate goal". | However, opposition parties said the statement "fell short" of expectations and lacked clarity on its "ultimate goal". |
| On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality in England could reopen on 12 April as part of a four-step plan to ease lockdown. | On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality in England could reopen on 12 April as part of a four-step plan to ease lockdown. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the aim in Scotland was to move fully back to a levels system of restrictions from the last week in April. | Ms Sturgeon said the aim in Scotland was to move fully back to a levels system of restrictions from the last week in April. |
| "At that stage, we hope that all parts of the country currently in level four will be able to move out of level four and back initially to level three - possibly with some revision to the content of the levels." | "At that stage, we hope that all parts of the country currently in level four will be able to move out of level four and back initially to level three - possibly with some revision to the content of the levels." |
| The youngest pupils returned to school this week | The youngest pupils returned to school this week |
| She said that from the last week of April, the government would expect to see "phased but significant re-opening of the economy, including non essential retail, hospitality and services like gyms and hairdressers". | She said that from the last week of April, the government would expect to see "phased but significant re-opening of the economy, including non essential retail, hospitality and services like gyms and hairdressers". |
| More detail will be set out in mid-March, including the order in which parts of the economy will reopen. | More detail will be set out in mid-March, including the order in which parts of the economy will reopen. |
| The aim is for a "progressive easing" of the level four restrictions at three-week intervals. | The aim is for a "progressive easing" of the level four restrictions at three-week intervals. |
| Scotland's youngest children and some senior pupils returned to the classroom on Monday, and Ms Sturgeon said schools were the "immediate priority". | Scotland's youngest children and some senior pupils returned to the classroom on Monday, and Ms Sturgeon said schools were the "immediate priority". |
| It is hoped that the next phase will see the remaining primary school pupils and more senior pupils back in the classroom "for at least part of their learning" from 15 March. | It is hoped that the next phase will see the remaining primary school pupils and more senior pupils back in the classroom "for at least part of their learning" from 15 March. |
| The rules on outdoor mixing would also be relaxed on that date, with up to four people from two households allowed to meet, and non-contact sports for under-18s resuming. | The rules on outdoor mixing would also be relaxed on that date, with up to four people from two households allowed to meet, and non-contact sports for under-18s resuming. |
| The final phase of the return to school would take place on 5 April, when it is hoped to lift the stay at home restrictions. | The final phase of the return to school would take place on 5 April, when it is hoped to lift the stay at home restrictions. |
| At least six people from two households should be able to meet together outdoors from that date, and communal worship will be allowed to resume. | At least six people from two households should be able to meet together outdoors from that date, and communal worship will be allowed to resume. |
| The levels system of restrictions would then be reintroduced from 26 April, along with a "more substantial" reopening of society and the economy. | The levels system of restrictions would then be reintroduced from 26 April, along with a "more substantial" reopening of society and the economy. |
| "It is important to stress, of course, that all of this depends on us continuing to suppress the virus now - and continuing to accept some trade-offs for a period, for example on international travel," said Ms Sturgeon. | "It is important to stress, of course, that all of this depends on us continuing to suppress the virus now - and continuing to accept some trade-offs for a period, for example on international travel," said Ms Sturgeon. |
| "However, if we do so, I am optimistic that we can make good progress in returning more normality to our lives and the economy." | "However, if we do so, I am optimistic that we can make good progress in returning more normality to our lives and the economy." |
| Will the first minister go faster? | |
| Analysis by Lucy Whyte, BBC Scotland education correspondent | |
| Scotland may have been among the first of the four nations to get any pupils in class, but it looks like it could be one of the last to have all pupils back to in-person learning. | |
| This plan could see more children, especially primary pupils, allowed back in the classroom by 15 March, a week after England. | |
| But the full return of Scotland's schools might not happen until a month later. | |
| The decision to stick with a phased approach will be welcomed by teaching unions, who will also be glad to see the inclusion of blended learning initially for senior pupils. | |
| The 5 April date for the potential full return to class is at the start of the Easter holidays for most, so really we are talking about the middle of that month before everyone is back. | |
| Will the first minister go faster? She has made clear that she will if she can, and there is a precedent when she accelerated the full return to school in August last year. | |
| On that occasion she could demonstrate that numbers were on her side. | |
| The Scottish Conservatives' Holyrood leader, Ruth Davidson, said the statement "fell short of public expectations". | The Scottish Conservatives' Holyrood leader, Ruth Davidson, said the statement "fell short of public expectations". |
| "We didn't get information about when measures like social distancing will end and when we will be able to do something as basic as give a loved one a hug," she said. | "We didn't get information about when measures like social distancing will end and when we will be able to do something as basic as give a loved one a hug," she said. |
| "Everyone understands that we might not be able to give people absolute certainty - but they were at least expecting the first minister to give them some kind of hope. | "Everyone understands that we might not be able to give people absolute certainty - but they were at least expecting the first minister to give them some kind of hope. |
| "Nothing has been published about what happens after 26 April. This isn't a route map out of Covid, it is holding document." | "Nothing has been published about what happens after 26 April. This isn't a route map out of Covid, it is holding document." |
| Scottish Labour's interim leader, Jackie Baillie, said the statement lacked clarity on its "ultimate goal". | Scottish Labour's interim leader, Jackie Baillie, said the statement lacked clarity on its "ultimate goal". |
| She also called for a revised testing strategy which includes mass community testing where appropriate. | She also called for a revised testing strategy which includes mass community testing where appropriate. |
| RULES: What are the restrictions in your area? | RULES: What are the restrictions in your area? |
| LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives | LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives |
| CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? | CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland? |
| VACCINE: When will Scots be vaccinated against Covid? | VACCINE: When will Scots be vaccinated against Covid? |
| WHO? The people who have died with Covid-19 | WHO? The people who have died with Covid-19 |