Nicola Sturgeon coronavirus briefing: Why there is no briefing on today, and how the First Minister will update Scotland instead

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

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 Scottish Government’s decision to extend the closure of schools until mid-February at the earliest.

In a statement on Tuesday, she said that, while the government had hoped to see the return of pupils on February 1, its “reluctant judgment” was to keep them closed for longer.

The move was welcomed by the largest teaching union, but organisations representing children with complex needs urged the government to allow special schools to reopen.

The First Minister is also expected to update MSPs on the latest coronavirus figures for Scotland, including deaths, infections and hospitalisations.

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