Nicola Sturgeon to publish plan with new information on reopening of schools

The government paper will include options for exiting lockdown.

The First Minister is expected to publish a government document setting out ways to exit lockdown, including information on the possible reopening of schools.

Nicola Sturgeon will publish the new Scottish Government paper setting out the challenges and options involved later today, according to BBC Radio Scotland.

It has been reported the document will deal with a series of scenarios including the impact on the NHS the choices regarding the possible reopening of schools and the prospects for business.

Nicola Sturgeon will publish a new Scottish Government paper setting out the challenges and options involved in lifting COVID-19 restrictions.

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government will announce when the country’s schools resume, not officials south of the border.

In a tweet on Sunday she said, like Wales, Scotland is in touch with local authorities, parents and pupils and will announce the reopening of educational facilities when the time is right.

In the First Minister’s daily briefing yesterday she said the infection rate is still too high to make "any meaningful change".

She said it is "very likely" the Scottish Government will continue lockdown measures beyond a scheduled review on Thursday.

Ms Sturgeon said although "real and significant progress" is being made, the rate of reproduction of the virus is still too high to relax lockdown measures.

She said some work on a potential transition from lockdown will be published in the coming days and while work would be done to ensure there is alignment with the rest of the UK, divergence in measures could still be possible.