First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hopeful Scotland can move to phase two of coronavirus route map out of lockdown from Thursday
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The First Minister is hopeful of announcing further easing of lockdown measures on Thursday.
"Although we might not (immediately) be able to do everything we hope to do in phase two, I am hopeful we will be able to enter it," she said at today's Scottish Government briefing, adding there was room for "cautious optimism" as the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 continued to decline.
Under the law lockdown measures are required to be reviewed every three weeks, with the next review date set for this Thursday, when the First Minister will set out to the Scottish Parliament what measures she believes are necessary going forward from there.
Among the changes that could be announced are permission being given for those who are shielding to go outside for exercise for the first time since lockdown began.
The amount of social contact others can have may also be increased and more workplaces may be allowed to reopen.
"The evidence suggests that the careful approach we have adopted so far is working, and the lesson I take from that is that we should stick with that plan, not abandon it," the First Minister said.
"It might have reduced, but the virus has not gone away yet."
She pointed out that while a number of changes might be allowed from Thursday they would not all necessarily take effect immediately as workplaces and public transport groups would be among those who might need time to implement measures to ensure they can reopen or expand safely.
Regulations will also have to be changed in some cases.
As there is more speculation that the twometre social distancing requirement might be reduced in England Ms Sturgeon was asked whether, if that did happen, Scotland would follow suit.
"We will keep that under review and will look very closely at the case for reducing the two-metre rule, and the circumstances in which that might be appropriate, and if we deem it is safe to reduce that we will do so," she said.
Related article: No new confirmed coronavirus cases in Highlands for third day in a row
Route map out of lockdown revealed as Scotland looks to future
