Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon holds Q&A for concerned young Scots

The pair took questions from young Scots on everything from whether they could see friends and family at this time, to how they could exercise if parks are busy.

READ MORE: Sturgeon warns up to 200k Scots face months of strict lockdown

It came after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week held a press conference on Covid-19 specifically for young people.

Below are some of the questions asked during today's conference and how the pair answered them.

How long will schools be off?

Sturgeon replies: "I can't say that for certain right now and I think it's really important to be honest about the things we do know and the things we don't know yet. We announced last week that the schools were going to close from Friday. I said that you shouldn't assume you'll be back in school after the Easter break because you probably won't and you might not even be back before the summer holidays. So that's to give you a bit of a sense right now. We won't keep you off school any longer than we have to, but it will help protect you.

"What I would say while you're off school is continue to study, do your homework, do the online work that you're teachers will be giving you - behave yourselves with your mums and dads and others! But remember to have some fun. Not withstanding coronavirus you're still allowed to have fun."

How Scotland will protect vulnerable and disabled people?

Leitch advised people to do their best to look after those groups, and of course wash hands more. He said specific guidance for these groups will soon be published.

How will Scotland do economically?

Sturgeon said: "You're probably finding right now that the adults around you are worried about the virus, but they're also worried just now about their jobs and their income, so we want to do as much as we can to help."

Rather than go bust she said they "effectively go to sleep for a while". She went on to explain the UK and Scottish governments have announced help for business which will minimise economic damage and allow us to go back to normal.

My mum won't let me out the house to see my friends, is she right?

Leitch replied: "I didn't want to be the guy that told you that you couldn't go and see your friends. Neither does the First Minister! If you've seen either of us in the last few days and weeks you'll know how tough this is to make these choices about the schools closing, about stopping the 5-a-side football, about the netball clubs, we're not doing it lightly - but honestly Amy, you can't go and see your friends.

"You can see them because you're probably better at FaceTime and WhatsApp video and Insta than your family are, you can teach your granny and grandpa and everybody else in your family to use that, but we'd really like you to step back from actually seeing them. it's not going to be forever and it will come back. But we really need you to do it, not just to protect you and your pals, but also to protect your family and the older folk you live around."

Sturgeon explained following the advice will make things return to normal faster.

How will qualifications be decided?

Sturgeon said one of the hardest decisions for her so far has been to decide schools are closed and exams won't take place.

She said the SQA "is going to look carefully at how you still get fair accreditation". She said we'll know more about this soon but will make sure young people don't get treated unfairly, and it's not something young people should be worrying about right now. 

"If you feel your life is normal, you haven't understood."

The SNP leader said she was aware a lot of young people were inviting people to gather in houses. "Don't do that," she explained. "That is absolutely the wrong thing to do."

"If you find yourself in groups with your friends then stop and ask yourself why you're doing that."

Will we run out of food because everyone is panic buying?

Leitch replied: "This is the thing that's annoying me the most. I have pals who are critical care nurses, A&E doctors, who are coming home from long shifts and they go to the shops and there's not enough supplies for them. So the supply chain, who we've spoken to, there is supply - there's plenty supply. The problem is people buying my milk and my bread and not just buying their own. So people need to stop doing that. It's selfish. If everybody just does what they always did and bought the same amount of mince that they always bought, no we won't run out of supplies. There's enough for everybody. 

"The other thing I'd say about food and supplies is please look after those around you who are perhaps a little bit less able to go out than you are."

Sturgeon added: "One thing I would ask you do for us is to make sure your parents, carers, adults, get that message."

What is the best way to look after your family?

Sturgeon said the best way to help family is "to encourage them to follow the advice".

That advice is hand washing, whole household self-isolating for 14 days if one person shows symptoms, only going out for essential purposes and staying a safe distance from others.

Is it okay to stay overnight with my dad, p.s I have asthma?

Leitch replied: "This is really difficult. So there's a lot of people on social media saying this is very straight-forward, everybody should just stay in their house, they should separate into their separate rooms, they should live in different bits. If only everybody lived in a four-bedroom bungalow. With bathrooms and a nice space at the back with a gym in it?

"We understand that everybody's circumstances are different. And there's a huge variation in those circumstances. I can't give you advice for every circumstance. What I can tell you is wash your hands, blow your nose into a tissue etc, all the stuff you've heard and social distancing is really really important. So if you can avoid for a while moving from house to house, I think that would be better. If you can't then observe the same rules in each of the houses. Make sure surfaces are clean, make sure you're washing your hands, all of those other things - and you're protecting those around you. Everybody's individual circumstances are very different."

Sturgeon explained that the current steps are about cutting down pressure on the NHS.

What will the Government do is my mum and dad become sick? I am worried. I have to start dialysis soon and will I be able to get it?

Leitch replied: "I can tell you for certain that the NHS is ready. And the NHS will help you at the right moment for your dialysis. And it will help your mum and dad if they were to become sick. I assure you that the health service is ready for you. That doesn't mean of course that the health service won't have more challenging times. We're having to stop some things we don't want to stop, we're stopping people maybe having new knees and hips even though they've been sore for a long time, but we're going to have to make choices just for a little while and then we're going to come back. Dialysis, though, will be an emergency thing, so absolutely do your dialysis when you need it Lucas."

When we will be able to see family and friends again?

Leitch said the fundamental rule and guideline is don't gather in groups. 

He said you can leave the house for exercise and supplies or have to go to a medical appointment or to pick up medicine. 

He said visiting parks for exercise can be fine, but if parks are very busy you will need to use your common sense.

He advised there are many online exercise classes that people can join in with.

Will there be a lockdown?

Sturgeon advised that every day we are carefully considering the next steps. "It may be that we need to see stricter measures in place and we won't hesitate to take those measures if that is necessary."

How can young people help with volunteering efforts?

Sturgeon said there's things we can all do if we're well. Eg write a note and put it through a vulnerable neighbour's door offering a phone call or FaceTime.

She said this is a terrible situation but we need each other and help each other and we can come together in ways that remind us what matters.

Leitch finished off by saying this is "not going to last forever".