It is “too early” to begin easing any lockdown measures “in any meaningful way”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister said Scotland has made “real and significant” progress in its fight against coronavirus, but warned the situation remains “very fragile”.
“The margins we have for ensuring the virus doesn’t take off again are really, really tight. That means we must be very cautious at this stage,” she told the Holyrood press briefing.
She added: “I have to be straight with you, it may very well be too early, even this time next week, in any meaningful way, to safely lift any of the current restrictions.”
The Prime Minister is set to dash hopes this afternoon that lockdown could be reaching its course, cautioning that Britain is not ready to return to normal.
However, Boris Johnson is expected to cave into growing calls for the Government to set out its ‘exit strategy’ from the curbs.
Last week the Scottish Government published a paper which said easing restrictions will not be a “flick of the switch moment” and that some could remain in place next year.
The next review of lockdown is due on May 7, the six-week mark.
Ms Sturgeon praised the “superb” effort by the public to follow social distancing rules.
But she said in the last week there was evidence of more people making journeys, with more people on the roads and more trips made using concessionary public transport.
She said while both of these increases were from a low starting point, they were still a “source of concern”.
Public Health England medical director Yvonne Doyle warned on Wednesday of a “slightly worrying” trend showing vehicles on UK roads on working days are at their highest level since March 23, when the lockdown began.
