She will do what’s best for Scotland

First minister stresses

THE first minister has revealed she would diverge from elsewhere in the UK in l i f t i ng lockdown measures if necessary.

In an interview she stressed this decision, however, is “not political in any way, shape or form”.

She said: “If, and it is an if, I’m not saying that we’re likely to get in to this territory, the UK Government took decisions that I thought were premature in terms of coming out of the lockdown, then clearly I would want to make sure that Scotland did what I judged was best to protect the population.”

Ms Sturgeon said Scotland was on track to hit its capacity target of 3,500 tests daily by the end of April but faces challenges in ensuring these available tests are “fully utilised”.

In terms of schools reopening, she said patterns such as having some pupils attend on alternate days, or only mornings or afternoons, were among the type of set-ups which may be needed.

Latest Health Protection Scotland figures published yesterday indicate 1,249 people have died after testing positive f or Covid-19. Across the country, 10,324 people had tested positive for the virus by Sunday morning, up 273 on the previous day.

Latest figures reveal that 1,251 confirmed cases for Covid-19 have been recorded across Tayside.

Currently 91 people are receiving treatment in hospital, one fewer than the previous day. Of that number, fewer than five are in intensive care. In Fife, meanwhile, 153 people are in hospital, 20 more than the previous day, with six patients requiring intensive care treatment.