First Minister said there was "good evidence" the national vaccination programme was already reducing the number of deaths from the virus across the country.
And the SNP leader revealed the average number of covid cases being reported each day in Scotland had dropped to 657 - the lowest rate since October.
It means all primary school pupils will be able to return to class as of March 15 - with high schools reopening full-time after the Easter break.
It comes as yesterday saw 33 more deaths recorded in Scotland overnight amid 542 new cases.A 10-year-old boy fled hotel quarantine with his dad on the stroke of midnight last night after their “nightmare” stay was extended at the eleventh hour.We told last month how Sami Caraballo had flown.