Although the number of people in hospital has increased by 67 in the past week, she said that rise was “significantly smaller” than the total recorded in the previous seven days and new admissions were falling.

But the First Minister warned that “throwing all caution to the wind would be a mistake”, arguing that cases could increase again thanks to “the full impact of the return to work and school”.

She said people should still work from home where possible, but her government would discuss a “more hybrid approach from the start of February” with business leaders.

Dr Liz Cameron, the chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, welcomed the decision not to extend the vaccine passport scheme beyond nightclubs and large events but added: “It remains a great disappointment that the Scottish Government did not see fit to remove other remaining economic restrictions at this stage. 

“We again urge the government to pick up the pace and work with the business community to devise a plan to allow the economy to fully reopen.”

Russell Borthwick, the chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “The decision to gamble the viability of these firms on stricter measures, which made little difference to infections, will go down as one of the biggest failures of government during this pandemic.

“This has been compounded by an inability to provide meaningful and prompt support to affected companies.”