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Councils across Scotland will stay in their current levels in the five-tier alert system for another week.

Nicola Sturgeon set the review in her weekly update to parliament.

She confirmed another 34 deaths in the past 24 hours after a covid test.

There were 754 new infections, 1021 people are in hospital and 70 people are in hospital.

The statement comes as Scots medics start training to deliver the long-awaited Covid-19 vaccine.

The move is being described as “the beginning of the end of this horrific pandemic”.

NHS staff – who wished to remain anonymous – revealed the Covid-19 plan in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, describing it as an “early Christmas present for us all”.

A source said: “There is light at the end of the tunnel."

When will school holiday changes be decided?

Tory MSP Ruth Davidson has demanded clarity on school holiday arrangements for Scotland’s schools.

It follows our exclusive report on discussions to extend the festive break because of covid concerns before and after Christmas.

Sturgeon can’t shed much more light on it though.

We will confirm the conclusions of our deliberations as soon as we have concluded them.

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'significant proportion' of vulnerable Scots vaccinated by spring

Nicola Sturgeon hopes a “significant proportion” of the most vulnerable people will be vaccinated against covid by the spring.

She said the Cabinet reviewed the mass vaccine plan this morning and insisted the jab will be available “as soon” as possible.

The UK and Scottish Governments hope a vaccine can be rolled out imminently.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon hopes coronavarius vaccine rollout can start before Christmas

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Nicola Sturgeon's explanation for lockdown decisions

The First Minister set out her reasons after advice from public health officials.

There were no changes, but some concern about the north east.

In more positive news, the FM said areas of the Highlands might soon be allowed indoor mixing again, like in the Western Isles. And Dumfries and Galloway could go down to level 1 soon.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon confirms new lockdown levels for all of Scotland’s council areas

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Positive signs as vaccine gets close

Nicola Sturgeon had some hopeful words after another grim tally of infections and deaths in the pandemic.

We remain hopeful that even before Christmas, we will be able to start vaccinating people in Scotland against Covid.

The Cabinet reviewed the plans for vaccination this morning. And I can confirm that we are ready to begin that process as soon we receive the first supplies of vaccine.

And we hope that by the spring, a significant proportion of the people who are most vulnerable to Covid will have been vaccinated.

Vaccination, over time, will help us all to return to a more normal pattern of life and of course that means that a possible route out of pandemic for Scotland is in sight.

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What are the lockdown levels across Scotland?

Level 1: Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

Level 2: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Argyll & Bute, the Borders, Dumfries & Galloway and East Lothian.

Sturgeon said D&G council is close to moving to level 1 but there are concerns about infections in neighbouring areas.

Level 3: Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, and Perth & Kinross

Level 4: Glasgow City, East & West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, North and South Lanarkshire, East and South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

No council is at the ‘near normal’ level 0.

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North-east councils escape tighter measures

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire had been on watch for potential move up from level 2 to 3.

It would have led to curbs on alcohol sales in hospitality among other measures.

Sturgeon said they could still go up a level if there is no improvement in the week ahead.

Cases in both these local authority areas have increased sharply in the last week - by 68% in Aberdeen, and by 42% in Aberdeenshire. That means their case numbers – although still below the nationwide average – are higher than in some level 3 areas such as Angus. Case positivity has also increased in both areas.

However, there is a need to understand more deeply the extent to which these increases are driven by specific outbreaks that are being actively managed within for example food processing and care settings, versus a wider and more general rise in community transmission, which would obviously be a concern - especially as we go further into winter.

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Lockdown review confirmed

No changes to any of the lockdown levels in Scotland for another week, Nicola Sturgeon confirms.

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34 more deaths from covid in Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon said there were 754 new infections in the past 24 hours.

1021 people are in hospital, down 20 from yesterday

70 people are in hospital, down 5 from yesterday

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Scotland's lockdown review as more councils braced for tighter restrictions

Regions of Scotland are preparing for tighter coronavirus restrictions on hospitality today after concerns about rising infection rates.

Public health experts were keeping a close eye on Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils after recent outbreaks in the north-east.

Both authorities are in level two but could go to level three, forcing pubs and restaurants to stop serving alcohol. It would also tighten the guidance on travelling to a neighbouring lower-level area.

Concerns have also been raised about Clackmannanshire and Perthshire in recent days.

READ MORE: Scotland’s lockdown review as more councils braced for tighter restrictions

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When is today's daily briefing?

(Image: Daily Record)

Nicola Sturgeon is due to give today’s daily update on the pandemic in Scotland at lunchtime.

The First Minister will deliver today’s figures on the impact of the virus, when she delivers the latest lockdown review from Edinburgh at around 2.15pm, live on BBC Scotland.

You can follow along here.

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Good morning and welcome

Good morning and welcome to today’s coronavirus live blog.

We’ll be bringing you all the latest update from the pandemic throughout the day.

Keep locked in and don’t miss a thing.

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