We’re well into the third month since stay at home became a requirement, not a recommendation. The actions and sacrifices of the vast majority of people have saved thousands of lives.

The big question now is how we ease lockdown in a way that keeps people safe and avoids a second wave of the virus. We simply can’t risk that when the UK’s death rate is already one of the worst in the world. While the finer details will need to be discussed and tweaked as we go, it’s welcome that the Scottish Government have laid out their plans for easing lockdown in four phases.

We need to keep the number of people each infected person passes the virus on to (the number epidemiologists refer to as R) below 1. The longer we’re successful with that, the easier it’ll be to carry out a “test, trace and isolate” programme that identifies and isolates people who have or may have the virus. But for now, this needs to be combined with an instruction to stay home for all but the most essential activities.

When we moved to phase one on Friday, May 29, it was followed by a weekend of more than a thousand arrests and 800 dispersal orders issued across Scotland by the police. Local beauty spots like Balloch and Luss were hit hard by antisocial behaviour, overcrowding, traffic chaos and litter. These problems were compounded by the fact that many people had ignored advice to stick to their local area and avoid travelling to national parks.

While the vast majority of Scots continued following the advice to stay home as much as possible and stay close to home for leisure activities, it only takes a significant minority to cause chaos and pose a danger to locals as well as themselves.

Clearly the relaxation of lockdown restrictions immediately before the weekend led to confusion over what was and was not allowed. That’s why, as a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 committee I’ve asked the Scottish Government not to relax lockdown rules on a Friday again.

As lockdown is eased, public health messaging will become more complicated. People need clarity and it is essential that there’s time to reinforce and explain each change ahead of weekends where people will be looking to go out and exercise their new freedoms.

This would help the government and communities avoid dangerous situations. Police officers are already working at full capacity to enforce this; we must try to ease their burden.

I don’t pretend this alone will solve the problem but I’m absolutely confident it will reduce it and make it easier for the police to manage. My focus throughout this crisis has been and will continue to be on the measures which will save lives and protect our communities.