What we have achieved so far is huge

One of my enduring feelings throughout the lockdown is that time appears not to be operating as it usually does.

March seemed like it would never end, while April raced by.

June is now not far away. Days are long, filled with constituent enquiries, online meetings and the occasional trip into parliament, while weeks disappear.

To have imagined at the turn of the year that we would all be confined to our homes for months on end would have been unimaginable.

But the magnitude of the task that has faced us - the biggest many of us have faced in our lifetimes - requires a response that reflects that challenge.

Thankfully, we have recently seen much welcome progress.

Since March 5 more than 3100 patients who were hospitalised for coronavirus have been able to leave hospital.

There are reductions in the number of people in intensive care and in the number of related deaths since the outbreak began. The human toll remains a tragedy, but we know that the difficult sacrifices we continue to make are working.

This week is also Mental Health Week. Being temporarily separated from our friends, families and usual support networks is difficult and it is important to take care of our mental wellbeing.

Spending time in my garden or walking around Dollar makes a difference in terms of reconnecting with the outside world. All the better when the sun is out.

Yet we know that the lockdown is harder for some than others.

Some are living in abusive households, while vulnerable folk isolate alone.

If you or someone you know are struggling, then please reach out – there are people ready to help. Scotland’s 24/7 Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline 08000271234; The Samaritans 116123 and Stirling CAB 01786 470239.

As we look towards how we may start to ease out of lockdown, there is an understandable focus on the economy.

I am contacted by constituents with local businesses, eager to open. Businesses in Stirling and Clackmannanshire have received more than £24 million in support from the Scottish Government throughout the pandemic because it recognises their importance to our recovery.

Our economic recovery and our wellbeing must go hand in hand.

That is the priority of the Scottish Government and will continue to inform the decisions that are made over our transition out of the lockdown.

The restrictions put in place in March are working.

The cooperation of the public by staying at home, except for essential purposes, is saving lives and I am pleased that the First Minister announced on Monday that on Thursday, the Scottish Government will publish a route map on setting out our phased approach to easing lockdown measures.

This first phase will start from the review date on May 28 and could take the form of more outdoor activity, such as being able to sit in a park and meet outdoors with someone from another household, some outdoor sporting activities and the opening of garden centres and recycling facilities.

This will only be possible if we are able to further supress the virus, which requires us to stick with the current lockdown measures – stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

We know that the sacrifices we make are working