First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us.

I want to start with the usual update on the Covid-19 statistics for the whole of Scotland."

NS: "I can report an additional 67 positive cases were confirmed yesterday. That represents 1.2% of the people who were newly tested yesterday and takes the total number of cases in Scotland to 18,847."

NS: "Just as a point of detail, today’s 67 cases represents actually a net increase of just 66, as one of yesterday’s cases has since been denotified."

NS: "A full health board breakdown will be available later, as usual, but I can give you the provisional information I have. 39 of the 67 cases are in the Grampian health board area."

NS: "It is not yet totally clear how many are connected to the ongoing outbreak in Aberdeen and I'm going to say a bit more about that outbreak shortly."

NS: "I can also advise, based on provisional information, a further 17 of these cases are in Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board area and we are examining these very carefully to see whether there are any patterns, or anything about these cases."

NS: "A total of 270 patients are currently in hospital with confirmed Covid. That is an increase of 3 since yesterday."

NS: "A total of 4 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed Covid-19. That is an increase of 1 since yesterday."

NS: "I am glad to say that yet again during the last 24 hours, no deaths were registered of a patient confirmed through a test in the past 28 days as having the virus. The total number of deaths, under this measurement, therefore remains 2,491."

NS: "Obviously the total number of deaths - and remember the figures reported yesterday by NRS shows the total being higher than that - is still a reminder of the dreadful impact of this virus. I want to extend my deepest condolences to everyone who is grieving a loved one."

NS: "We will also today publish updated information about the prevalence of the virus in Scotland."

NS: "Our modelling suggests that the R number – the average number of people infected by one other infectious person – is between 0.6 and 1."

NS: "That is a slight increase on the last estimate, which was between 0.6 and 0.9. However, and this is an important caveat you'll have heard me say before, the R number becomes a less reliable indicator when the prevalence of the virus is as low, overall, as it is in Scotland."

NS: "The modelling also shows that the number of people in Scotland overall with the virus has continued to fall. Our central estimate for last week is that 275 people across Scotland were infectious."

NS: "These figures show - once again - the sustained progress that we’ve made, over the past few months. And I want to thank everybody who has contributed to that."

NS: "In particular, to thank our health and care workers for everything they've done and continue to do."

NS: "But I do want, as I have been doing for the past few days, to warn against any shred of complacency. We've undoubtedly seen, in recent days, an increase in positive cases, and that might not be reflected in the modelling I've just reported to you."

NS: "Many of the cases we've seen in recent days are linked to outbreaks such as the one in Aberdeen, or the one in Inverclyde last week, but it's important to say that not all of these new cases are linked to outbreaks."

NS: "So we really must be on our guard, and recognise what these figures are telling us, which is that this virus is very much still out there and circulating in Scotland."

NS: "Let me provide the latest information I have on the situation in Aberdeen. You'll appreciate, this is an active outbreak currently being managed, so this information will be changing regularly at the moment."

NS: "As of now, a total of 79 cases have been confirmed as associated with that cluster. That is an increase of 25 on the position I reported yesterday."

NS: "There's a further 30 cases currently under investigation as possibly linked to the outbreak, and a total of 233 close contacts have already been identified - although as case numbers rise, the number of contacts also being traced will inevitably rise."

NS: "I would expect that figure to rise further during the course of today."

NS: "As I said yesterday, many of those positive cases and contacts have been linked to a number of licensed premises in Aberdeen. And a list of those places is now available on the Scottish Government’s website."

NS: "To be clear, it’s not that one particular person in this cluster has visited all these premises. It is that someone who has tested positive has been in each location. But it will be different people in each of these locations."

NS: "We’ve been asked why members of the public who have visited these premises have not all been actively contact traced. It's a reasonable question."

NS: "The answer is that they may not have been there at the same time as the person who has tested positive - or they might not be classified as a close contact. For example, they might not have been within the 2m for the requisite period."

NS: "The point of assurance I want to give you today is that contact tracers are professionals, they are highly trained experts in what they do, and they assess who should be traced."

NS: "However, if you have been to any of these premises, even if Test & Protect hasn't been in toucvh with you, we are still asking you to be vigilant for symptoms."

NS: "And if you have any symptoms, to put yourself forward for testing and self-isolate immediately."

NS: "And, although we're asking people in every part of the country to follow the FACTS advice, if you've been in any of these premises just be that extra bit rigorous in everything you do right now."

NS: "And if you are contacted by Test & Protect in Aberdeen, please comply with the advice they give you."

NS: "In fact, if you're contacted by Test & Protect anywhere in Scotland, I appeal to you to comply fully with the advice they give you. That applies generally but particularly in relation to what they advise you around self-isolation."

NS: "If they advise you that you're a close contact and should self-isolate for 14 days, it is absolutely essential you do that, and do that for the entirety of the 14-day period."

NS: "The further growth of this cluster - which I’ve reported today, and which I would unfortunately expect to be standing here tomorrow reporting a growth beyond the numbers today..."

NS: "..this is a reminder of how easily this virus spreads when it's given the opportunity. It also underlines why it was so important we took strong, decisive action, to try to keep this outbreak under control."

NS: "Today is the first full day that the restrictions in Aberdeen have been in place. So let me take this opportunity to set out again what the restrictions are. However, I would remind you that guidance on all of this is available on the Scottish Government’s website."

NS: "Firstly, we are advising people in Aberdeen not to travel more than 5 miles for leisure or recreation. That does not apply, however, if you’re travelling for work, education or medical treatment."

NS: "But one of the particular questions we’ve been asked since yesterday relates to holidays. Our advice to people in Aberdeen is that you should not be going on holiday right now – either to other parts of Scotland, or to other parts of the UK."

NS: "And, as those of you who watch these briefings regularly will know, we advise against overseas holidays in general at the moment, for people right across Scotland."

NS: "We’re also advising people outside of Aberdeen not to travel to the city for leisure purposes, or to visit friends and family."

NS: "Some people in Aberdeenshire have asked if they can travel into the city for work. The answer is, if it's for work, yes, you can - but please follow all guidance."

NS: "But you shouldn't be travelling into Aberdeen even from Aberdeenshire for leisure or recreational purposes or to visit family."

NS: "If you are currently visiting Aberdeen, you can stay – but again, please follow all of the guidance while you are there. And take extra care when you return home."

NS: "Secondly, we are advising that people in Aberdeen should not go into each other’s houses. Extended household groups are not included in that - but the restriction applies to everyone else."

NS: "There are also new restrictions on indoor visits to hospitals in Aberdeen – with only essential visits permitted. And care home visiting remains restricted to outdoor visits only, in line with the current guidance."

NS: "Finally, we have put in place regulations which require all indoor and outdoor hospitality in the city to close. So all bars, restaurants, cafes, and pubs must now be closed."

NS: "They required to close by 5pm yesterday."

NS: "Takeaway services in Aberdeen can continue. And hotel restaurants can continue to provide food for residents. But hotel bars must also close."

NS: "Now, everything I’ve seen so far suggests that businesses are complying the regulations, and I don't want to underestimate how difficult this situation is for them, so I want to thank all businesses affected across Aberdeen sincerely for their help and cooperation."

NS: "In fact, I want to thank everyone in Aberdeen for being so understanding of why this action is necessary, and it is necessary, and for sticking to this new guidance, as I am absolutely confident you will."

NS: "I know how tough this is, I know this is a real blow to the city and all of us regret that we've had to take this decision. But I do believe people understand why this is necessary."

NS: "There are just too many uncertainties about this outbreak right now so we are not yet confident we can keep it under control without these additional measures."

NS: "Allowing this virus to run free is, in my view, not an option. It's not an option any time, given we know how dangerous this virus can be, but particularly as we prepare for the reopening of schools from next week."

NS: "We've therefore taken a precautionary approach. At the moment, unfortunately, that means one part of the country has had to go into reverse."

NS: "But ultimately we hope this precautionary action will allow all of Scotland to continue the progress we've achieved over these past few months."

NS: "It's not just people in Aberdeen who have a part to play here. All of us must be on our guard, now more than ever."

NS: "The further we get from lockdown, the more opportunities there are for the virus to spread. As I've said before, when we locked ourselves down, we locked it down too. When we let ourselves out, we let it out as well."

NS: "That is, I'm afraid, the simple reality of the situation we face. So as we come out of lockdown, we need to be extra careful in absolutely everything that we do."

NS: "We, all of us, every single one of us are the first line of defence against this virus, but we will only be as strong as our weakest link. Every time one of us forgets to follow the advice, we risk letting the virus slip through our defence."

NS: "As soon as that happens, we are then firefighting, as we see in Aberdeen right now."

NS: "Test & Protect is doing a fantastic job in firefighting, but we all have a responsibility to try to make sure those fires don't start in the first place."

NS: "So let's all recognise our individual responsibility to the overall wellbeing of the country."

NS: "Any time one of us fails to abide by the health guidance, we give Covid an opportunity to come back."

NS: "And as we've seen in Aberdeen, it will take any opportunity it can get."