Nicola Sturgeon says lockdown exit strategy expected next week but measures to continue for at least three more weeks

The First Minister has revealed that she hopes to publish a lockdown exit strategy next week as she says current measures must continue for at least another three weeks.

Nicola Sturgeon said in an online Q&A session with opposition party leaders that while there is “increasing” confidence that measures are working, there is not yet full confidence that the virus has been suppressed sufficiently.

Ms Sturgeon will take part in a meeting of Cobra later today with officials from the UK Government and the devolved administrations, where a decision is expected on the extension of lockdown protocols.

She saidd: “I’m as keen as anyone to lift these restrictions, but I will not begin to do so until I am convinced that we have done as much as is necessary to suppress the virus and we have a clear plan in place to continue to contain it once these measures do start to be lifted.”

The First Minister announced that an exit strategy on the lockdown would be developed over the next week before it is shared with the public.

Ms Sturgeon announced today that 779 people in Scotland have died after testing positive for Covid-19, a rise of 80 from 699 on Wednesday, according to Health Protection Scotland figures.

There are 196 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms as of Wednesday night, one more than the previous day, she added.

Some 1,799 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, up 51 from Wednesday’s figure of 1,748.

A total of 7,102 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up 354 from 6,748 the previous day.

The First Minister said: “We do firmly believe that the lockdown is having a positive effect.

“For example, while we still see fluctuations we are not seeing at this stage significant or sustained increases in the number of people in hospital or in intensive care with the virus.

“However, we know these lockdown measures need time to work so we must continue to exercise caution in our predictions, we are by no means through this yet.”