Nicola Sturgeon 'very hopeful' phase 2 of easing lockdown in Scotland will start next week

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Nicola Sturgeon has said she is "very hopeful" the next steps of easing lockdown in Scotland will be confirmed one week today.

The First Minister said she wanted Scots to "see more of their families and friends" when phase two begins - but warned it may not be able to do everything set-out in the Scottish Government's routemap at once, with some measures being phased in gradually.

She revealed the latest data showed the virus was in "decline" north of the Border, with the crucial 'R' infection rate now between 0.6 and 0.8.

New estimates show that as of last Friday, 4,500 people in Scotland had the virus and were infectious - down from the previous estimate of 11,500.Speaking at her daily media briefing in Edinburgh, the SNP leader said:.