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First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "I have decided to hold a briefing today - even although we had not originally planned one - because I think it is important to update you all on recent developments in the north west of England, and their implications for Scotland..."
NS: "..but also to give you an update and some further context to today's statistics in Scotland."
NS: "I took part in a four nations call this morning with the Prime Minister, the First Minister of Wales, and the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland."
NS: "In that call the Prime Minister updated us on the recent developments in the North West of England and the decisions the UK Government had taken as a result. I support the quick action the UK Government took last night."
NS: "There is no doubt that all of us in each of the nations of the UK are going to face these kinds of challenges in the period that lies ahead of us."
NS: "We will face clusters and outbreaks as we have already in Scotland, and possibly will face more general increases in community transmission of Covid."
NS: "It is really important that each of us deals with these issues when they arise and we do so quickly and effectively."
NS: "I want to be very clear today that in Scotland, all of our decisions continue to be informed by and indeed driven by our clear strategic objective - which is to seek to eliminate Covid."
NS: "In other words, to drive prevalence of the virus to as low a level as possible and then keep it at a low level."
NS: "Saying that is easy. Achieving that is not easy. It is going to be difficult and we are going to face challenges in seeking to do that in the weeks and possibly months to come."
NS: "We will require ongoing vigilance. We will require strict adherence by all of to public health guidance, and it will require a lot of hard work which is already ongoing on the part of our Test & Protect teams and our public health teams in every part of the country."
NS: "While each of the UK nations will take decisions in line with our own situations, as is our responsibilities, it is also vital that we share data and experiences and we coordinate our messaging and actions as much as possible and appropriate to do so."
NS: "So I very much appreciate the agreement of all four governments to cooperation and to the sharing of localised information as we work together to suppress this virus and drive it to as low a level as possible."
NS: "Following on from the call this morning, I chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience committee - to consider what, if any actions we need to take in Scotland in light of developments in the North of England."
NS: "The Scottish Government has now issued strong advice against non-essential travel between Scotland and the affected parts of the North of England."
NS: "Let me be clear, we do not do this lightly – the connections between Scotland and the North of England are strong, important, and highly valued by people on both sides of the border. But we see this as being an important and necessary precaution."
NS: "Our advice is, of course, designed to minimise the risk of spread from England into Scotland, but it's also designed to assist people in these parts of England."
NS: "By not travelling there, we are making sure we don't exacerbate the challenge they're already facing. We're therefore now advising that travel between Scotland and the areas covered by the UK Government's new restrictions should only be undertaken if absolutely essential."
NS: "Those areas are Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire."
NS: "You can find details of the specific locations covered by this advice on the Scottish Government's website or on our Twitter feed."
NS: "If you've already travelled to those areas from Scotland and are there right now, I want to be clear that we are not asking you to cut short your visit, but while you are there you must follow the UK Government's advice and restrictions."
NS: "And I would ask you to take extra care to follow the health advice that is encapsulated in our FACTS campaign that we've given you throughout the pandemic."
NS: "If you're planning to return home to Scotland from these areas, you can of course do this. But we're asking that if and when you do so, you are even more careful than normal on your return."
NS: "In particular, if you're returning to Scotland from these parts of the North of England we're asking you to minimise your contact with people from outside your own household for 14 days after your return."
NS: "And we're asking you to avoid, if at all possible, indoor hospitality and areas where you're more likely to come into contact with people outside your own household."
NS: "And if you experience any symptoms or have any cause for concern at all then you should self-isolate and book a test through the NHS Inform website."
NS: "I know some families may have been planning travel between North West England and Scotland this weekend, perhaps for a holiday, or perhaps - and I know this will apply to many of my own constituents in the South Side of Glasgow, to celebrate Eid with family and friends."
NS: "I'm asking anyone in that position, and I'm not doing this lightly."
NS: " If you are in that position of having planned to travel there this weekend, unless your travel is absolutely essential please, for the reasons I've already given, change those plans and don't travel to those areas."
NS: "In addition to that travel advice I also want to say something about the situation here in Scotland at the moment."
NS: "To do that I'll start as is customary by providing an update on the most recent statistics for Scotland. Because today's briefing is a bit later than normal, these have already been published today."
NS: "An additional 30 positive cases were confirmed yesterday. That represents 0.8% of the people who were newly tested yesterday, and it takes the total number of cases in Scotland to 18,627."
NS: "I'm going to come back and say a bit more about today's cases in a moment."
NS: "A total of 255 patients are currently in hospital with confirmed Covid, which is 5 fewer than yesterday."
NS: "A total of 4 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed Covid. That is 2 more than yesterday."
NS: "Finally, I am very pleased to say that yet again, during the last 24 hours, no deaths were registered of a patient confirmed through a test in the previous 28 days as having Covid-19. The total number of deaths, under this particular measure, therefore remains 2,491."
NS: "However the total number of deaths is a reminder of the impact of the virus. I want to send my condolences to everyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one."
NS: "Let me return to say a little bit more about today's cases."
NS: "Yesterday, when I announced the results of a review of lockdown measures, I noted how much progress Scotland has made, but I also noted how fragile our position is."
NS: "That's not a situation unique to Scotland. All countries are grappling with a very difficult situation in which progress, because of the nature of this virus, is fragile."
NS: "Today's numbers in Scotland I think demonstrate that fact. In fact, today is the first time we have seen 30 new cases in a single day in more than eight weeks."
NS: "Now, we must pay attention to that and I want to assure you that we are paying close attention to that. But of course it's also important to put it into some context."
NS: "In early June, when we last reported more than 30 cases, we conducted just over 5000 tests. Yesterday, we conducted just over 15,000 tests. And today’s new cases - and this is important - still represent less than 1% of those who have been newly tested."
NS: "They are also spread over 9 of our 14 health board areas."
NS: "So that's important context but we shouldn't ignore the fact that we are nevertheless seeing more new cases now than was the case two or three weeks ago."
NS: "We are closely monitoring all data about new cases, and our Test and Protect teams are ensuring that all potential contacts of all cases are followed up and tested where appropriate."
NS: "Given all of the information we have, I want to be clear that our opinion remains right now that the virus is under control in Scotland. But the need for caution is more obvious than it has been probably since the outset of this pandemic, if we are to keep it under control."
NS: "One particular thing which is striking from data we have seen in recent days is that around half of all new cases in the past seven days ago have been in the 20-39 age group."
NS: "That's something we've seen in other parts of the world recently. Younger age groups, perhaps people more likely to go to pubs and restaurants and meet up with friends, are testing positive in higher numbers."
NS: "It is natural after all this time to want to socialise and to catch up with people. But these figures should be a reason for caution. I urge everyone - and particularly people in their 20s and 30s, not to be complacent, and to please follow all of the rules."
NS: "It is there for a very clear and important purpose."
NS: "We know that fatality rates for Covid are higher among older people. But we also know that adults of any age can die from Covid, and that adults of any age can transmit Covid to others, including much more vulnerable older people."
NS: "And we also know that for anyone, the virus can have serious, harmful and sometimes long-lasting effects. Nobody, whatever your age or circumstances, nobody can safely get Covid, or assume if they get it they will not suffer serious consequences."
NS: "So the best way of protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your wider community, is to stick rigidly to the advice in our FACTS campaign."
NS: "For those activities which we are now allowed to do – for example going to pubs indoors – I'd ask you still to think about how necessary these nights out are, and how frequently you might want to go on them."
NS: "And remember that the rules on indoor meetings still apply in pubs and restaurants – you should not be meeting more than two other households inside in a pub or a restaurant, and you should be complying with the rules on physical distancing."
NS: "I mentioned Eid earlier, and I want to return to that.
Today is a very special day for Muslims in Scotland and around the world. I recognise how important Eid is for all Muslims. I want to take the opportunity to wish all of you Eid Mubarak."
Today is a very special day for Muslims in Scotland and around the world. I recognise how important Eid is for all Muslims. I want to take the opportunity to wish all of you Eid Mubarak."
NS: "Please enjoy your celebrations. I know how important they are to you. But I urge you to do so safely. There are strict rules on physical distancing in mosques and other places of worship right now."
NS: "And if you're celebrating at someone else's house, please remember there should not be more than three households there, and remember also the importance of physical distancing and hygiene."
NS: "And it is these rules I want to end on today. What I'm asking all of us, including me, to do right now is to be very conscious of our own behaviour, and to think about if and how we can do better in complying with the rules."
NS: "I will be doing that and I'm asking everyone else to do it as well. Have we maybe just let our standards slip a little bit in the last few days? If that's the case then this is a moment for all of us to tighten up."
NS: "The fact is this - every single time one of us breaches one of these rules - whether that's going into an enclosed space without a face covering, or not washing our hands, not complying with physical distancing..."
NS: "..then we give this virus an opportunity to jump from us to somebody else. One of the things we know about this virus is that it is very infectious and it will take those opportunities if we give them to it."
NS: "That is important, because the virus is still there. Just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it has gone away. So everywhere you go I'm asking you to do this. Act as if Covid is in the room with you, because it absolutely could be."
NS: "If you think about it that way, I think that makes it easier for all of us to remember to act in the ways necessary to stop it jumping from somebody else to you or from you to somebody else."
NS: "And of course our FACTS campaign summarises and encapsulates the five steps all of us can take to try to minimise the risk of transmission."
NS: "So please, remember FACTS and stick to these golden rules.
Face coverings must be worn in shops and public transport, and in all enclosed spaces where physical distancing is more difficult."
Face coverings must be worn in shops and public transport, and in all enclosed spaces where physical distancing is more difficult."
NS: "Avoided crowded places. Indoors, obviously, but outdoors as well."
NS: "Today is a perhaps all-too-rare hot sunny day in Scotland. Crowded places in parks are not safe. They pose real risks of transmission just as crowded places indoors do. So please, avoid crowded places."
NS: "Clean your hands regularly and thoroughly, and clean hard surfaces you're touching regularly, when you touch them as well."
NS: "Two-metre distancing remains the rule, and I want to stress that.
There are limited exemptions in some locations, with mitigations. But generally, two-metres distancing is the rule."
There are limited exemptions in some locations, with mitigations. But generally, two-metres distancing is the rule."
NS: "I suspect it's one of the rules that all of us perhaps are most guilty of forgetting about right now. Please remind yourself of that."
NS: "Lastly, self-isolate and book a test if you have any of the symptoms of Covid. That is a new cough, a fever, or a loss of or change in your sense of taste or smell. You can go to the NHS Inform website and find out how to book a test."
NS: "If we all remember these five golden rules, and don't just remember them but make sure we abide by them, then we can't take the risks of an infectious virus away completely..."
NS: "..but collectively and individually we can make sure we are minimising the risks of it transmitting from one person to another."
