Face coverings will no longer be a legal requirement in Scotland from next month.
The First Minister said the rule will be scrapped as of March 21 and will instead be converted to guidance.
Scotland's coronavirus certification scheme is also set to come to an end on Monday, February 28.
But she added that in the event of a new more severe or transmissible variant, masks may again be legally enforced in some indoor settings.
Addressing MSPs, the FM said: "Assuming no significant adverse developments in the course of the virus - we expect that the legal requirement to wear face coverings in certain indoor settings and on public transport will be converted to guidance.
"However, we will continue to strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings in shops and other indoor public places, and on public transport.
"So even though certain measures, for example face coverings, may not be legal requirements in future, we will still recommend voluntary compliance as part of the range of behaviours that will help keep us safe as we manage covid in a more sustainable and less restrictive way."
The new framework outlines enhanced hygiene across the general population, improved ventilation in workplaces and other settings; and - especially when levels of infection may be higher - increased hybrid and flexible working and the use of face coverings in some indoor public places.
She explained a new covid strain that presented the ability to evade vaccine or natural immunity would "likely be classified as high risk".
"In these circumstances, there may be a legal requirement to wear face coverings in some settings. And we might issue guidance for businesses and service providers on reasonable measures to reduce the spread of covid on their premises.
She added: "It is less likely that any of these measures will be legally imposed in future, but we will advise them for as long as they help keep the virus under control and protect those who are most vulnerable."
