READERS have been getting in touch asking when they can expect First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s coronavirus briefings to start up again.
During the festive period the televised Scottish Government press conferences were largely put on pause.
READ MORE: Coronavirus Scotland LIVE: Calls to close UK borders as Covid cases hit record high
One exemption was yesterday, when Sturgeon did appear alongside national clinical director Jason Leitch to provide an update following the news that Scotland would be placed into a lockdown with restrictions more like those from March.
Under the new rules Scots must stay at home unless they have an essential purpose such as shopping for food, accessing medical services or helping a vulnerable person.
In the main, through Christmas and the New Year the usual daily briefings have not taken place – over the bank holidays some coronavirus data was also paused, with the latest death figures, hospitalisations and cases per area not published temporarily.
All data – deaths, cases, cases per area, hospitalisations and positivity rate – is now being published daily and from tomorrow the First Minister will start presenting briefings again.
Briefings typically take place on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with an update on each area’s coronavirus level given to the Scottish Parliament on a Tuesday afternoon and First Minister’s Questions held on a Thursday afternoon when Holyrood is sitting.
With the Parliament in recess until January 8, the schedule for briefings is therefore:
Thursday January 7 – 12.15
Friday January 8 – 12.15
Monday January 11 – 12.15
Tuesday January 12 – statement to Scottish Parliament
Wednesday January 13 – 12.15
Thursday January 14 – FMQs, 12.20
Friday January 15 – 12.15
This list may be subject to change. Who will appear at each briefing is also yet to be confirmed.
As always the briefings will be viewable on the Scottish Government’s social media channels, the BBC Scotland channel and The National will live blog them.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel