Here are the First Minister’s opening words yesterday which, being optimistic about the effects of the Scottish Government’s tactics, were deemed less newsworthy than the news that some folk were not obeying the rules, plus three graphs which powerfully demonstrate those effects:
I want to start – as I always do – by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to Covid-19 in Scotland.
As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 9,697 positive cases confirmed – an increase of 288 from yesterday.
A total of 1710 patients are in hospital with Covid-19 – that is a decrease of 38 from yesterday.
A total of 141 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid 19. That is also a decrease of 7 since yesterday.
These figures for hospital admissions and intensive care are giving us real and growing cause for optimism that the current lockdown is working to suppress the virus. That’s the good news, perhaps the less good news is that also tells us why we must stick with these lockdown restrictions, because as I’ve said many times before standing here, any easing up on that at all right now would risk us putting all that progress into reverse and the virus quickly running out of control again. So please stick with the restrictions because as you can see they are working
I am also, in some other good news, able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 2,271 patients who had tested positive for the virus and been admitted to hospital have been able to leave hospital, and I wish all of them well.
New cases flattened since 10th April and now falling for last four days.
Number of patients requiring intensive care flattened since 4th April and now falling for falling for 12 days.
Calls for advice and help from those thinking they have the symptoms low and flattened for last two weeks.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Amongst the growing fever of expectations for the future, it’s nice to breathe a little and reflect on how things are now.
And of course you are right – things are not as bad now as they were, and so far, have not met our worst apocalyptic fears.
And of course, a lovely supportive yet challenging paper from Scottish government also that allows us to hope that our future will be controlled by those we elected rather than those that we did not. Oh if only we had more grown up politicians in Scotland – just think what we could achieve through our own collective political efforts!
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