Scotland's national clinical director has confirmed that the Government's coronavirus lockdown easing plans will take the form of 'schools first, families next, then the economy'.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Jason Leitch also urged caution against relaxing the current restrictions too early to risk then having to return to lockdown.
He said: "The care homes data is really good. It's the first signs that the vaccinations is doing in the wild what it did in the trials. It's a little bit to early to say that's going to happen across all ages and all populations. So we just have to be cautious.
"And the last thing we want is to open too early, and then have to go back [to lockdown]. That's the last thing we want. So that's why, schools first, kids first, families next, then the economy."
And when asked if the Scottish Government is pursuing a strategy similar to that of the UK Government which is in the expectation that this will be the last lockdown, Mr Leitch replied: "Of course. But that's what we wanted the last time as well. I mean no country wants to go through these waves of economic and social change. It's so so difficult.
"[The vaccine] is a real positive to help us get out the other end but there were 1100 cases yesterday in Scotland. So prevalence is still too high and the best way for the virus to mutate is high numbers. So low numbers, less mutations, because it just has less chance to move from person to person.
"So the WHO talk about get your case numbers down, get your positivity down, get your hospital numbers down and your ICU numbers down. And that's where we are headed but it's a long journey."
His comments come after Nicola Sturgeon said Scots can expect a 'revised strategic framework' to be published in the coming days detailing how the country will 'gradually' come out of lockdown as the government looks to 'restore, on a phased basis, greater normality'.
The First Minister confirmed a return to schools will be prioritised above all other current restrictions currently in place, while emphasising the 'Stay at Home' message remains in force.
