Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scots to hold on to the "fundamental and enduring principles of love, kindness and solidarity" as the UK lockdown was extended for another three weeks.
Speaking following a Cobra meeting where measures were discussed, the First Minister vowed to set out more details of any plans to ease restrictions in the "coming days".
She said the measures are believed to be having an effect in combating the spread of the virus, but lifting the restrictions early risks a resurgence.
It comes Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab revealed Brits face at least another three weeks on lockdown as the UK death toll soared to over 13,700.
Ministers agreed the need to prolong social distancing measures following meetings of the Cabinet and the Government's emergency committee amid signs the epidemic in the UK is beginning to peak.
Raab added that lifting restrictions would “threaten a second peak of the virus” which would impact both public health and the economy.
Speaking from today's press conference in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said: "I want to give you as much confidence as I can, but while we don't yet have all of the answers - no country does - we are developing a plan to help us plot the best course forward.
"In the meantime, thank you again for all you're doing. We're all feeling the pressure of these restrictions in our own lives and we are all worrying about family, friends and colleagues.
"Many of you, I know, are also worried about your jobs and how you will pay the bills. The Scottish Government will keep doing all we can to help with all of that."
Sturgeon also thanked people for sticking to the lockdown rules and urged them to continue to do so, saying: "Please stick with the rules. Please stay at home to save lives."
Echoing comments made by Raab's, Sturgeon said lifting any of the lockdown and social distancing measures now could overwhelm the NHS and result in more deaths.
She went on: "If we were to lift any of these measures now, we would risk an immediate and potentially exponential resurgence of the virus. And that could result in our NHS being quickly overwhelmed.
"It could result in even more cases in our care homes, and it would also mean much more loss of life.
"It could of course also lead to the reintroduction of even more stringent restrictions in the future and substantially more damage to the economy.
"As a result, in short, all of the progress we have achieved together in these last few weeks, through high compliance with the lockdown restrictions, would be lost."
The news came as the Department of Health said the Covid-19 death toll in hospitals in the UK had reached 13,729 as of 5pm on Wednesday, up 861 on the figure the day before.
779 people have now died from coronavirus in Scotland - an increase of 80 deaths overnight.
The number of confirmed cases has risen to 7,102 up 354 from Wednesday.
A total of 196 Scots are in intensive care receiving treatment, it has been confirmed.
Of the confirmed positive cases, 1,799 people are in hospital which is an increase of 51.
