SCOTLAND is close to having Covid-19 under control, Nicola Sturgeon has said ahead of a review of current coronavirus restrictions today.

The First Minister confirmed yesterday that the toughest Level 4 lockdown restrictions – currently in place in 11 local authority areas – will end on Friday.

Speaking at the Scottish government’s coronavirus briefing yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said that the percentage of tests coming back positive has “come down again to much closer to the 5 per cent that the World Health Organisation says is important for assessing whether or not the virus is under control.”

The latest figures show the daily test positivity rate is 6.7 per cent.

Ms Sturgeon said that the decline in the number of new cases over the last few weeks shows that current measures to suppress the virus are working.

The First Minister said that the arrival of supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine in Scotland over the weekend is “extremely positive news,” but warned of logistical challenges in distributing doses.

She added that there is still a need to be cautious over the festive period and to continue to follow the restrictions.