Schools in Scotland will reopen from 11 August, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed. 

All pupils are expected to return to the classroom full-time by 18 August.

Announcing changes to Scotland’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Ms Sturgeon said people who have been asked to shield will no longer be required to from 1 August.

But the first minister said the country will not be moving out of phase three of its lockdown, warning that “the virus has not gone away”.

Ms Sturgeon said the virus is now at “very low levels” in Scotland, with estimates last week suggesting just 300 people were still infectious and the R number remaining below the crucial number of one.

She also confirmed no coronavirus patients have died in the country for the past fortnight.

Despite the “substantial” progress, the first minister said the time was not right to move to the fourth and final phase of easing lockdown restrictions.

“A move to phase four would require us to be satisfied that the virus is no longer considered a significant threat to public health,” she said, “Unfortunately that is far from the case.”

In phase four of the lockdown easing, all workplaces would reopen, mass gatherings could resume and public transport could run a full service.

Hygiene and some social distancing measures would still need to remain in place.

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