NICOLA Sturgeon is set to give an update on coronavirus restrictions in place across the country.

The First Minister will address a range of issues, including education, testing and traveller rules, as she addresses the Scottish Parliament.

What to expect

The Scottish Government has already said the current measures will last until at least the middle of February but the First Minister will provide some detail on "other steps we are planning to take”.

These include going further than current proposals by the UK for quarantine hotels and other measures aimed at making current travel rules "more effective".

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The Scottish Government will also give an update on asymptomatic community testing after pilot projects were run towards the end of last year, with councils having put forward plans for making "much more extensive use" of community testing.

What about schools?

Most pupils in Scotland are currently taking part in online learning, with only those deemed vulnerable and the children of key workers attending school.

The National: Schools are set to reopen in January as planned, Michael Gove says, despite concerns over the new more infectious strain of coronavirus. Credit: PA

At the last review on January 19, the Scottish Government said the earliest date schools could possibly open for pupils who are not vulnerable or children of key workers was being pushed back to at least mid-February.

Teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has urged the Scottish Government to err on the side of caution before planning school reopening and urged it "not to gamble with school safety".

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National clinical director professor Jason Leitch told the BBC his recommendation to ministers is that younger children can return, although he is reluctant to say older pupils - who will be working towards qualifications – can do the same.

"We're heading in the right direction," he said.

"I can break the secret – you definitely won't see all of lockdown lifted, but there is progress and therefore you've got to think, as public health advisers, what is the first thing you should do?

"The most important thing is children. That's what we've trailed in the last few weeks that, if we can, we will get some kids back to school."

When will the restrictions ease?

Sturgeon said the statement will cover some of the measures the Scottish Government will take to "help us control the virus as we continue to suppress it, and in time gradually start to ease the lockdown restrictions".

The First Minister stated on Monday that "the current lockdown is working" as infections are falling – with 848 new cases recorded in Scotland in the previous 24 hours, and a daily test positivity rate of 9.5%.

She added: "That said, case numbers are still high, too high, much higher than we would want them to be, so we need to get them down further – then we need to keep them as low as possible."

Where can I watch it?

The briefing was scheduled to start at 2pm. This has now been put back to 2.30pm. It will be broadcast live on the Scottish Parliament TV channel, which you can view online, as well as BBC Scotland.

You can also follow live updates with our coronavirus blog.