'Ask yourself if going for drive-thru coffee is an essential journey': Nicola Sturgeon urges Scots to stick with lockdown rules during 'critical stage'

Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scots to stick with lockdown rules in a ‘critical stage’ in the battle against coronavirus.

In her daily coronavirus response briefing, the First Minister outlined more details on potential options for Scotland’s eventual exit from lockdown measures.

But she also warned that there can be no let-up in abiding by the restrictions that have now been in place for several weeks.

It follows concerns over the weekend about queues of cars at newly-reopened drive-through coffee shops.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The most important task for all of us in the here and now is to get the virus under more control than it is now. We are at a critical stage in that.

“That means sticking rigorously to the current rules. It means thinking hard about our own compliance – and tightening that now, not easing up on it. If you have been going out a bit more than you should, please rectify that.

“Please stay at home except for essential purposes – and remember, at this stage, essential purposes means only food supplies, medicines and daily exercise.

“You should ask yourself if going for a drive-through coffee is really an essential journey.”

Queues at a Costa drive-through in Edinburgh

Under the measurements used for the daily statistics given by the First Minister, 44 more people have died from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.

This brings the total number of deaths with a confirmed case of Covid-19 to 1,620.

As of 9am on Tuesday, there have been 12,437 positive tests, up by 171 since yesterday.

A total of 1,656 patients are in hospital across Scotland with the disease, down 64 since yesterday. Of that total, 104 are in intensive care, an increase of five on yesterday.

Since March 5, 2,847 patients who had tested positive for the virus have been able to leave hospital.

Ms Sturgeon will face questions from opposition leaders tomorrow in a virtual First Minister’s Questions session instead of her usual press briefing.

The weekly stats from National Records Scotland will also be released, which show a wider picture of deaths where Covid-19 is presumed to be the cause, in addition to those where there has been a positive test.