SCOTLAND has recorded no confirmed Covid-19 deaths for seven straight days.
Nicola Sturgeon said that the statistics show that “Covid is now being driven to very low levels in Scotland”.
Since June 26, there have been six days where no confirmed cases were admitted to hospital, including three days in the last seven-day period.
The First Minister stressed that “every death which has been recorded results in a loss to family and friends".
She added: "I don't want to go backwards to the days where each and every day people were being admitted to hospital.
"Let's make sure we do everything we need to do to protect ourselves and each other."
But data from the National Records of Scotland, which includes confirmed and suspected Covid-19 deaths, indicated that 13 people have died between July 6 and July 12 a decrease of five from the previous week.
The First Minister said the 13 deaths including suspected cases, was following the downward trend of the virus being suppressed in Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said that the public should be “hyper vigilant” and be on alert for case numbers being on the rise again.
She said: "If I think back to the early part of April, into May, what I would have given to stand here and give you figures like that.
"At the peak of this outbreak more than 200 people were for a period being admitted to hospital every day. Let's not take the risk of going back to that."
The milestone came as Scotland eased lockdown restrictions further.
The First Minister said: "Today marks the biggest step for Scotland out of lockdown so far.
"The childcare sector can fully open from today, venues like museums, galleries and other attractions can also welcome visitors from today, although in many cases you will need to book tickets in advance.
"Hairdressing services resume today, in fact I understand some opened at midnight (because of) demand. I wish I had known about that."
She added: "The changes are long awaited and have been very hard-earned by everybody across the country.
"But I have to say that I am even more nervous about today's changes than I have been about earlier changes in previous phases of coming out of lockdown."
Many of the changes involve indoor activity, she said, adding that the risk of the virus spreading indoors, in a pub for example, is significantly higher than it is outdoors.
Ms Sturgeon added: "That is why we have deliberately waited until infection levels were very low before allowing these services to restart, that gives us the best possible chances of managing the risk that reopening indoor services creates.
"But it doesn't remove those risks, and so it is vital - more vital than it has been at any stage of this crisis so far - that all of us stick rigidly to the rules and guidance on how to behave in these different settings."
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