Nicola Sturgeon: Lockdown update on outdoor excercise this weekend

Scots will learn if rules around outdoor exercise are to be relaxed in an update this weekend, according to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Advice for Scots currently states that exercise should be limited to one hour per day.

Speaking at her daily briefing from St Andrews House, Ms Sturgeon said that limits around outdoor activities were the only restrictions the Scottish government was considering easing.

It comes after Boris Johnson signalled to MPs on Wednesday that he would announce a limited relaxation of some of the lockdown rules in a televised address on Sunday evening.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would give an update on outdoor exercise restrictions this weekend. (Photo by Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Reports suggest the UK Government is considering allowing outdoor sports venues such as golf courses and tennis courts to reopen, and even permitting outdoor pavement seating in cafés.

At her press briefing yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said she had not been consulted before the Prime Minister’s announcement, and insisted that the lockdown in Scotland would be continued.

She said she would “not be pressured” into lifting the lockdown “prematurely”, and said the “all-important” R-number, which indicates how fast coronavirus is spreading - was still too high in Scotland.

This afternoon, the First Minister said she had made clear in a phone call with the leaders of the other UK nations that “Scotland’s lockdown would stay in place for now”.

She said there had been some “helpful recognition” that Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales may “move at different speeds” while easing restrictions, but reiterated that all parties would continue to coordinate in planning and messaging.

Ms Sturgeon also praised the ongoing efforts of Scottish people to abide by the lockdown rules, stating that “without a shadow of a doubt” their compliance had helped make “really significant progress”.

But she warned against complacency, and told the public not to break the restrictions over the weekend.

The First Minister also paid tribute to those who served in the Second World War at the briefing, on the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany.

Ms Sturgeon added: "They showed the necessity and the value of personal sacrifice for the common good.

"They demonstrated the resilience of the human spirit and our ability to overcome adversity.

"As we pay tribute to them for their bravery, dedication and idealism that they showed 75 years ago, let's also thank them for the inspiration they give us today.

"Our challenge may be different, but as they did then, we will overcome it.”

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