NICOLA Sturgeon has updated the nation on the latest coronavirus statistics and the Government’s strategy as a new tiered system is introduced.

A further 28 deaths among people who had recently tested positive for Covid-19 were announced, as well as another 1202 new cases.

The First Minister was joined by interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith at the briefing in Edinburgh.

They addressed several key issues. These are the key points.

Care Homes

A report published shortly before the briefing by Public Health Scotland revealed dozens of hospital patients had been discharged into care homes between March 1 and May 31.

However, the report concluded: “The analysis does not find statistical evidence that hospital discharges of any kind were associated with care home outbreaks.”

READ MORE: Scots patients who tested positive for Covid were discharged to care homes

The First Minister admitted she expected the conclusion of the report to be different, and said more research needs to be carried out into care home outbreaks.

“We have to work harder to understand what the drivers and factors were,” she said.

Smith explained that officials will need to examine the roll of “footfall” in care homes, as well as contact between residents and other people.

He added that he believes Scotland is “punching above its weight” in terms of the amount of research carried out into the virus.

Lockdown strategy

MSPs approved the Scottish Government's plans for a five-tier system – with Levels 0-4 – of coronavirus restrictions in Parliament yesterday.

The National: Nicola Sturgeon

READ MORE: Covid in Scotland: 28 further deaths recorded, Nicola Sturgeon confirms

Sturgeon announced today that formal confirmation of which levels would be applied to different local authority areas would be revealed tomorrow.

"Work to finalise these decisions will take place over the course of today and this evening," the First Minister said.

It was explained that the Scottish Government is likely to err on the side of caution when making the decisions initially.

Smith said doing so is the best way to provide stability in each region, reducing the prospect of restrictions being frequently changed.

Car sharing

Sturgeon issued a reminder to the public about guidance on car sharing, urging Scots to avoid it unless essential. 

The First Minister said she had been contacted by people about rules which state Scots should only travel with members of their own, or extended, household if possible.

According to the Scottish Government’s most recent figures, more than a thousand people who tested positive for Covid in the previous week had reported sharing a car, the FM said.

"That doesn't mean that's where they all got the virus, we've gone through this before, people give this information to Test and Protect,” Sturgeon stated. “But it is possible that some of these people got the virus from somebody they were sharing a car with."

Protect Scotland app

The First Minister welcomed the news that the NHS Protect Scotland contact tracing app can now be used outside of Scotland.

The National:

READ MORE: Protect Scotland Covid app now working in Northern Ireland and Jersey

The software has been made compatible with similar systems in Northern Ireland and Jersey, with further work under way to link it with apps in England and Wales.

Sturgeon said: "So the improvement that has now been made to the app is about interoperability. It means that, as of now, the app works in both Northern Ireland and Jersey.

"If you have to travel to either of those locations on essential business, you can keep using the Protect Scotland app. You don't have to shift to the app in these places."

Christmas

The First Minister was asked about the prospect of some semblance of normality returning in time for Christmas, with particular concern for students who could potentially be required to stay in halls over the holidays.

Sturgeon said she’d “love nothing more” than to give certainty to Scots regarding their festive plans.

She added: “The more we drive the virus down now the greater chance of normality at Christmas.”