Nicola Sturgeon 'very hopeful' lockdown in Scotland will be eased this week

The First Minister is expected to make an announcement on easing restrictions this Thursday.

Nicola Sturgeon remains “very hopeful and optimistic” that her government will be able to begin lifting the lockdown in Scotland this Thursday.

Earlier this month, the First Minister set out a list of requirements that Scotland needed to meet before it could move to “phase one” of her routemap out of lockdown.

Those requirements include the Covid-19 “R number” being below one for at least three weeks, as well as proof of a sustained fall in new infections, hospital admissions, and deaths.

Nicola Sturgeon remains “very hopeful and optimistic” that her government will be able to begin lifting the lockdown in Scotland this Thursday. (Photo by Jane Barlow-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Asked on Good Morning Scotland whether the country was on track to meet those targets by Thursday, when the Scottish government will conduct its legally-mandated lockdown review, Ms Sturgeon said: “Right now, on Monday morning of this week, yes, I am very hopeful and optimistic that we will be able to move to phase one.

“The data suggests that that is the case,” she added.

If the requirements are met on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon will outline to the public which restrictions can be eased in phase one, and in what order.

She called the prospect of that announcement an “important” but “cautious” step forward.

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