THE First Minister has revealed the Scottish Government's lockdown exit strategy during the latest coronavirus update. 

Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement in a speech in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

Details for the re-opening of shops, outdoor and subsequently indoor hospitality, and further relaxations to the rules about meeting up with other households were laid out.

Helensburgh Advertiser: The timetable out of lockdownThe timetable out of lockdown

Stay at home restrictions will be lifted from April 2 with people urged to "stay local" instead - meaning no travel will be allowed outside people's local authority area for non-essential purposes.

College students could be able to return to college from April 5, with certain classes prioritised. 

Non-essential retail and click and collect services will also re-open on a phased basis from April 5, as well as garden centres.

Helensburgh Advertiser: The timetable out of lockdownThe timetable out of lockdown

Barbers and hairdressers will also be able to re-open from April 5.

On April 19, all school pupils will be back full time after the Easter holidays.

On April 26, the country will return to the "levels system", with all of Scotland moving to a modified level three to begin with. 

Mainland Scotland travel restrictions will be completely lifted on the same day, with travel to the rest of the UK to resume on that day or shortly after.

Helensburgh Advertiser: The timetable out of lockdownThe timetable out of lockdown

Non-essential retail will re-open at level three, alongside pubs and restaurants - but only outdoors in groups of up to six from three households up to 10pm. Indoor hospitality will be allowed until 8pm for groups of four from two different households, with only food and non-alcoholic drinks available.

Libraries, gyms, swimming pools and other leisure activities will also resume from this date, with some restrictions.

Outdoor socialising will allow six people to meet up from three different households.

It was also confirmed that there were a further seven deaths of coronavirus patients, and 597 new cases in the past 24 hours, 3.8 per cent of those tested.

Across Scotland, 1,943,507 people have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

There are 440 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, down seven in 24 hours, and 42 are in intensive care, an increase of two from yesterday.