Nicola Sturgeon has said the coronavirus lockdown in Scotland is unlikely to be lifted before May 7 and expects another extension.
Speaking to ITV's Robert Peston tonight, the First Minister revealed she is "far from convinced" the UK will be in a position to lift restrictions by the beginning of next month when another review is due.
The SNP leader claimed the decision to ease measures will not be a "flick of the switch moment" and will have to be "very slow, very gradual".
She said: "People talk about lifting the lockdown, that is not going to be a flick of the switch moment - we're going to have to be very careful, very slow, very gradual.
"I'm far from convinced at this stage that when we get to the next review point on the 7th of May we'll be in a position to lift any of these measures right now, because the margins of manoeuvre that we're operating in right now are very, very, very tight and narrow."
It comes after Sturgeon changed her government’s approach by backing wearing face masks in public in "limited circumstances" on Tuesday.
She stressed the evidence guiding her was "limited and not overwhelming" and that face coverings are not a substitute for staying at home.
But she insisted there are "some benefits" to be yielded if the coverings are used in crowded shops or on public transport.
However, Sturgeon urged people "not to point the finger at people not doing it".
The advice does not refer to medical style masks, but a covering such as a scarf.
Scotland’s national clinical director followed up by saying face masks could become mandatory for the public if the science changes.
Jason Leitch declined to rule out stricter rules on face coverings and said he had “never” seen science move at a faster pace.
A total of 1,415 people have now died from coronavirus in Scotland, an increase of 83 since Tuesday.
There are 11,034 confirmed cases which is up by 313 overnight.
There are 114 Scots with confirmed or suspected coronavirus currently in intensive care units and confirmed or suspected cases in hospital are now at 1,727 - a decrease of 27.
