NICOLA Sturgeon has confirmed that further lockdown easing in Scotland will be delayed for three weeks - but that it's hoped all remaining major restrictions can be lifted on August 9.

The First Minister made her remarks during a meeting of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, as she also laid out plans for what life will look like as Scotland eases its way to Level 0.

The confirmation comes amid rising Covid-19 cases across the country, with an emphasis on vaccination over the next three weeks.

The planned easing of limits on June 28 will be put back to July 19 at the earliest so that more people can be vaccinated.

However, there will be some minor changes to rules around weddings and funerals, including allowing members from more than one household to carry a coffin.

She also said "it will be possible and proportionate to lift the major remaining legal restrictions on August 9", assuming Scotland meets the necessary conditions on vaccination and harm reduction.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Overall, the evidence that vaccination is helping protect people from serious health harms is allowing us to change how we respond to the virus.

"Today’s total of new positive tests is the largest we’ve seen since the peak in January. These numbers still shock."

Ms Sturgeon adds that if aims are met she hopes that all parts of Scotland not currently at Level 0 can move to that level on July 19.

That means the limits for household gatherings indoors will increase and up to 200 people will be able to attend weddings and funerals.

The general indoor physical distancing requirement can be reduced from two metres to one.