Nicola Sturgeon said that schools may be able to open near to normal in August, if coronavirus rates continue to fall.

The First Minister said that currently the planning had to be for a return with social distancing but if the virus is continued to be suppressed then “nearer normality” could be possible.

Re-opening is still two months away with August 11 the date but schools need to begin preparing now.

Ms Sturgeon said she would not compromise on safety.

She also said the blended learning with part time in school and part time at home was not a long-term plan.

She said: “It is absolutely not the case that we are planning for blended learning, with children learning at home for part of the school week, to last a year, or anything like it.”

The First Minister’s comments came after a Scottish Government advisor said that if the virus is low enough by the start of term then schools should re-open as normal as possible.

Devi Sridhar, who is on the Covid-19 expert scientific advisory group said: “”If Covid-19 numbers can be brought low enough in Scotland by 11 August (under 20 confirmed cases) and with appropriate ‘test and protect’ policies, my personal view is that schools should re-open as normally as possible, kids back full-time & able to play and interact together.”

Ms Sturgeon responded by stating: “Right now ,like other UK nations, we must plan for a school model based on physical distancing.

“But as Devi Sridhar says, if we can suppress the virus sufficiently and have other measures in place, nearer normality may be possible. It’s why we must stick with plan to suppress.”

The latest weekly coronavirus report from National Records of Scotland showed there had been ten deaths in Glasgow in the last week.

It was double the week before when just five were reported. The total number of people in Glasgow who have died from coronavirus in now 630.

Across Scotland however there had been a fall in deaths for the seventh week in a row.

There were 70 deaths were coronavirus was named on the death certificate, down form 87 the week before.

The total deaths now number 4,070 in Scotland.

Of the 70 deaths last week 60 were aged 75 or above.

There were 33 deaths in care homes and 28 in hospital, while seven were at home.

Ms Sturgeon is today due to reveal the phase two measures of the exiting lockdown strategy that can be eased.

It is expected to see more businesses allowed to open and building sties to restart some construction work.

The next lockdown review is due on July 9.