Watch Nicola Sturgeon reveal her plan to exit lockdown live from Holyrood

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will reveal the Scottish Government’s route map out of the current national lockdown today (23 February).

Ms Sturgeon will set out the plan for gradually easing the country out of restrictions on Tuesday (23 February) afternoon, with immediate priorities to include returning young people to education, sports activities for young people and limited social interaction for adults.

Watch live here

A gradual phased return to normality

Ms Sturgeon has said that the Scottish Government plans a gradual and phased return to “as much normality as possible”, now that Covid-19 case numbers have decreased and the number of people in hospital is starting to reduce.

A limited number of children and young people were permitted to return to school in Scotland on Monday (22 February), and it is hoped more children will go back later in March.

Restrictions on care home visits will also be eased from early March, followed by allowing people the chance to meet up, initially outdoors.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We have published new guidance to enable an easing of restrictions on care home visiting from early March.

“Beyond that, giving people the ability to meet loved ones, initially outdoors, is a priority for easing restrictions within the current level 4.

“As we get to a situation where we can move back to a levels approach, with all or part of the country moving down a level, we can start to carefully open the economy again too.

“The strategic framework sets out as far as possible at this stage how we will approach the gradual easing of restrictions.