THE First Minister is making a major announcement on Scotland’s path out of lockdown.
Nicola Sturgeon will set out what life will look like under the lowest level of coronavirus restrictions.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is it?
The announcement will be made at Holyrood at around 2.20pm today as part of the latest review of the route map out of lockdown.
What to expect
Sturgeon said last week it was "unlikely" that any area would see restrictions eased on June 28 – the date it had been hoped all of Scotland would move into Level 0 restrictions.
She previously indicated that this move would likely be delayed by three weeks.
The Scottish Government will also publish a review today of physical distancing requirements, along with a paper which Sturgeon said would set out "what we hope life will look like beyond Level 0 - as we get to the point where we can lift all, or virtually all, of the remaining restrictions".
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This level, the lowest in Scotland's five-tier system, is only currently in place in the island authorities of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, with all mainland areas having either Level 1 or Level 2 restrictions applied.
The First Minister tweeted: "I will make a statement to @ScotParl today (c 2.20pm) setting out the vaccine milestones we hope to reach over the summer and, based on those, the path we hope to take out of Covid restrictions and back to greater normality in our day to day lives. Please tune in if you can."
📺 I will make a statement to @ScotParl today (c 2.20pm) setting out the vaccine milestones we hope to reach over the summer and, based on those, the path we hope to take out of Covid restrictions and back to greater normality in our day to day lives. Please tune in if you can.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 22, 2021
What has the First Minister announced already?
Sturgeon previously told MSPs: "Given the current situation – and the need to get more people fully vaccinated before we ease up further – it is reasonable to indicate now that I think it unlikely that any part of the country will move down a level from June 28.
"Instead, it is likely that we will opt to maintain restrictions for a further three weeks from June 28 and use that time to vaccinate – with both doses - as many more people as possible.
"Doing that will give us the best chance, later in July, of getting back on track and restoring the much greater normality that we all crave."
Where can I watch the announcement?
The First Minister’s speech will be broadcast on Scottish Parliament TV. You can keep up to date with all the latest developments with The National.
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