Nicola Sturgeon update: what time is the First Minister providing an update on Scotland’s lockdown restrictions - and what could change?

Nicola Sturgeon is due to make a statement to MSPs on Tuesday, updating them on lockdown.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

When will the First Minister provide update on lockdown restrictions?

Ms Sturgeon will provide MSPs with any updates to restrictions shortly after 2pm on Tuesday (February 2).

How to watch Nicola Sturgeon’s update

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Viewers can watch live on Scottish Parliament TV and follow the First Minister’s Live YouTube Stream as well as the Scottish Government's official Twitter page – @scotgov.

As ever, The Scotsman will be running a live blog, where you can follow all the updates.

What is the First Minister likely to say at Tuesday’s review?

While the Scottish Government has already said the current restrictions will last till at least the middle of February, the First Minister will provide some detail on “other steps we are planning to take”.

Further measures to control coronavirus will be announced at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon has said.Further measures to control coronavirus will be announced at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Further measures to control coronavirus will be announced at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking at Monday's daily coronavirus briefing, she stressed that “the current lockdown is working”, saying the number of infections was falling.

But she added: “That said, case numbers are still high, too high, much higher than we would want them to be, so we need to get them down further – then we need to keep them as low as possible.”

Ms Sturgeon said “even with the vaccine programme there is still more we need to do”.

Her statement in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday will also set out how Scotland intends to go further than measures already proposed by the UK for quarantine hotels.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The First Minister said: “We have already agreed, with other countries across the UK, to introduce supervised quarantine from some countries.

“However, in our view the current UK-wide proposals don’t go far enough, so tomorrow we will provide some more information about the extent to which we intend to operate supervised quarantine here in Scotland.”

Ms Sturgeon said she would also set out measures aimed at making current travel restrictions “more effective”.

She also said: “Tomorrow’s statement is also going to cover some of the measures we will be taking to help us control the virus as we continue to suppress it, and in time gradually start to ease the lockdown restrictions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The current lockdown is working” as infections are falling – with 848 new cases recorded in Scotland in the past 24 hours, with a daily test positivity rate of 9.5%.

“That said, case numbers are still high, too high, much higher than we would want them to be, so we need to get them down further – then we need to keep them as low as possible.”

Ms Sturgeon also said she will use Tuesday’s statement to update people on plans for community testing of people without Covid-19 symptoms.

This comes after pilot projects were run towards the end of last year, with councils having put forward plans for making “much more extensive use” of community testing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In addition, the review of restrictions will set out the Scottish Government’s position on schools and nurseries and “how and when we might be able to start to resume in-person learning and childcare”, as well as expanded testing arrangements for these.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.