Coronavirus lockdown measures in Scotland could begin to be
lifted from 28 May, has announced.
The first minister said this would mean people could meet someone
from another household as long as social distancing is
maintained.
More outdoor activities and sports like golf and fishing will
also be allowed.
Ms Sturgeon also announced that coronavirus testing will be
extended to everyone in Scotland over the age of five who is
displaying symptoms.
Tests can be booked online and will be available at one of
Scotland's five drive-in testing centres, or at one of the 12
mobile testing units.
Although anyone can now request a test, priority will still be
given to key workers.
The list of symptoms which would require someone to self-isolate
was updated on Monday to include loss of smell or taste. The
other symptoms are a new, continuous cough or a fever.
The Scottish government will publish more details on Thursday of
its "phased approach" to easing the lockdown restrictions.
The first minister said that if progress was being made on
suppressing the virus, the first phase would start from 28 May.
She said the aim would be to allow:
- more outdoor activity, such as
being able to sit in the park
- meeting up outdoors with
someone from another household, as long as people stay socially
distant
- some outdoor sporting
activities, like golf and fishing
- opening of garden centres and
recycling facilities
- the resumption of some outdoor
work.
Ms Sturgeon said more information would also be given about when
schools might reopen.
"Within two weeks, my hope is that we will be taking some
concrete steps on the journey back to normality," she said.
"As I've said before, it won't be normality as we knew it because
the virus will not have gone away, but it will be a journey to a
better balance - I hope - than the one we have today."
She said that sticking with lockdown restrictions for "a bit
longer" was important so the next steps could be taken with
confidence.
The first minister added that current lockdown advice in Scotland
remained in place.
Some lockdown measures were eased in England last Wednesday,
allowing people from different households to meet outdoors.
People are also allowed to travel to other areas of England to
visit destinations like parks and beaches.
However, the changes did not apply to Scotland, Wales or
Northern Ireland, who are working to their own timetables.
Thursday's "route map" will take into account the latest figures
on the spread of the infection and the death rate data which will
be published by the National Records of Scotland on Wednesday.
On Monday, Ms Sturgeon said 2,105 patients had now died in
Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up two from
2,103 on Sunday.
But she issued a note of caution over the death figures, saying
that registrations tend to be lower at the weekend.
There are now 1,427 patients in hospital with confirmed or
suspected Covid-19, up 119 from 1,308 on Sunday.
Of these, 63 are in intensive care, a rise of four
