Nicola Sturgeon coronavirus briefing: This is why the First Minister isn't holding a lunchtime briefing on Thursday – and what is happening instead

There will be no lunchtime coronavirus briefing from the Scottish Government today, with Nicola Sturgeon instead due to attend First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.

The weekly session of the Scottish Parliament will be live streamed on The Scotsman at 12:30pm, with up-to-the-minute news and analysis on our live blog.

Ms Sturgeon is likely to face questions from MSPs over the latest daily coronavirus figures, vaccination numbers, and the grim UK death toll.

In a statement on Wednesday, she said she is “truly sorry” for any mistakes that have been made after the UK’s coronavirus death toll passed 100,000.

She said this should make all political leaders “think very hard about what more we could have done and what lessons we must continue to learn”.

She added: “I know that I, and everyone in my Government, have tried every day to do everything we possibly can.

“But I don’t think any of us, reflecting on numbers like these, can conclude that we have always succeeded.

“And for any mistakes we have made, firstly I take responsibility for that, and I am – and I always will be – truly sorry for any mistakes we have made or for any reflections that we could have done things differently.”

Nicola Sturgeon will give an update on the latest Covid figures for Scotland at the start of FMQs.

In a message to people who are grieving the deaths of friends and family from coronavirus, the First Minister added: “I know that this won’t be any consolation to you at all, but nevertheless I do want you to know that your loss weighs heavily on me and it always will.”

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