FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed Scotland's plan for exiting lockdown.

It sees a phased re-opening of businesses from April onwards.

The First Minister said that the updated strategic framework would be updated again in mid-March on reopening the economy from mid-April onwards.

She listed the priorities and indicative timeframe for lifiting restrictions and re-opening the economy.

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There will be a move fully back to the levels system from the last week in April.

All parts of the country in level four will move back to level three.

Sturgeon said there will be a "phased but significant" re-opening in the last week in April.

It would see non-essential retail, hospitality, gyms and hairdressers allowed to re-open.

The first change is expected from March 15, with the next phase of schools returning with P4-7 pupils and more senior pupils going back into school.

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Non-contact group sports for 12- 17 olds can return also.

From April 5, it is hoped the stay at home restrictions will be lifted and communal worship can return. An easing of the restrictions to allow six people from from two housholds to meet outdoors is also planned.

She said the plan in lifting restrictions was to be "cautious, careful and patient".

She said: "The current position is positive and promising but still quite precarious."

Acting "too quickly" she said "will allow the virus to get ahead of us again and put lockdown back into reverse".

In time, she said, vaccination would be the main tool for suppressing the virus.

Travel restrictions will be in place for some time yet to guard against importation of new variants.

The latest daily statistics showed there were 655 new cases recorded. There were 1076 in hospital and 93 in intensive care.

Another 56 deaths were registered of a person who tested positive. The total deaths now stands at 7006.

So far 1,465,241 people have received a first dose of the vaccine. Another 19,753 first doese were carried out yesterday.

The First Minister said the dip in the daily jags total was down to a temporary and expected reduction in supplies.

It is now expected that all over-50s and those in the clinically vulnerable category will be vaccinated by mid April and then the aim is to have all adults vaccinated with a first dose by the end of July.