NICOLA Sturgeon had to run through the main points of her Covid update a second time for Douglas Ross as Scotland is set to ease most restrictions from next week.

The First Minister questioned whether the Scottish Tories were trying to "undermine" clear communication on Covid-19.

It came as she announced that most Covid-19 restrictions will be dropped in Scotland from Monday, August 9, but people will still have to wear face coverings in the majority of indoor spaces.

Speaking during a virtual meeting of the Scottish Parliament, which is currently in recess, Sturgeon noted that the move to Level 0 does not "signal the end of the pandemic" but it will "restore a substantial degree of normality".

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon confirms Scotland to scrap most Covid restrictions but masks remain

Scottish Tory leader Ross welcomed the move beyond Level 0 in the First Minister's update but said the statement was a "mixed bag".

Ross criticised it as being too late, saying that his party had "argued for some time" for changes to be made to the Scottish Government's approach.

He then hit out at certain restrictions remaining in place despite the move to Level 0 and now the upcoming move past it.

Ross said: "Clear communication is essential to maintaining public trust and compliance. There isn't much clear on many fronts in this statement."

He claimed the public are "losing patience" with some restrictions remaining.

The First Minister responded initially by saying she was "struggling to understand whether or not he listened" to her statement.

Sturgeon said: "I've spent every single day since March last year trying to deliver clear communication – I'm sure I have not always succeeded, I readily concede that.

"Sometimes it feels as if Douglas Ross and his colleagues have spent many of these days trying to undermine the clear communication and I got a whiff of that again today. So let me try to take him through it again."

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The First Minister said that the Tories have called for most of the changes that were announced in the update but added: "The difference is that they called for these changes to be made at a time when it would not have been safe to do so. It would have put people more at risk and that is why we have continued to take a safe, cautious and steady pace through our exit from lockdown."

While Ross described the statement as a "mixed bag" Sturgeon said that it was "sensible and cautious" as it will keep people "as safe as possible".

She then hit out at Ross's questioning of the Government's decision to keep face coverings in certain areas.