Image source, Donnamarie Miller

Pupils across Scotland have begun working at home, after schools closed indefintely on Friday in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Parents of some of those children have shared pictures and videos of their children knuckling down to their school work.

They include Ethan, a pupil at St Benedict's Primary in Glasgow, who looked excited to be working from home on Monday morning.

And Katie and Owen Campbell, of Stenhousemuir in Falkirk, was among thousands who took part in an online PE class led by fitness expert Joe Wicks.

Image source, bbc

NEWS SUMMARY:

The number of coronavirus deaths in Scotland has reached 14, with 499 known cases.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the figures as she emphasised everyone should stay at home if possible.

Ms Sturgeon said "the vast majority of people" were making every effort to limit social contact. However, she said "too many" people were still being expected by their employers to go to work.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has also announced a new national community hub and assessment centre has been set up for those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms who require additional support.

A physical assessment centre is to be set up in every health board area in Scotland, with the majority to be in place today and the final two in place by the end of the week.

People with coronavirus symptoms and who are seeking additional advice should dial NHS 24 on 111 at any time. Please go to NHS inform, external if you are seeking a sick note, do not dial 111 for this.

Image source, PA

The UK government is hoping to pass all stages of their 329-page emergency bill, external through the House of Commons on Monday.

With cross-party support for the urgency and general principles of the new laws, progress of the Coronavirus Bill is not under threat. But there will still be disagreements and pressure on ministers.

The emergency legislation will then be debated tomorrow at the Scottish Parliament, as MSPs consider the legislative consent motion for the bill. We'll bring you extensive coverage in the afternoon.

Click here for extensive detail of what's in the UK Coronavirus Bill.

People have been asked to take part in a huge round of applause on Thursday to say thank you to the NHS staff working tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers of Clap for our Carers are asking everyone that can to clap at 20:00 on Thursday - whether it's in your garden or local park - and at a safe distance from others, of course.

Image source, Getty Images

Similar displays of appreciation have been taking place in Spain, France and the Netherlands, with Spanish police and health workers applauding each other.

To find out more, visit the Clap For Our Carers, external website.

NHS Western Isles is limiting numbers of visitors to its sites to further reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.

Anyone who has a cough, flu-like symptoms or a fever have been asked not visit patients.

Dr Maggie Watts, director of public health, said: “No children should be visiting hospital unless this is in exceptional circumstances and approved by the nurse or midwife-in-charge.

"We are also asking all visitors not to congregate outside wards or in corridors.”From Monday the guidance for people visiting patients in hospitals in the Western Isles is:

• Visiting is limited to one visitor per patient between 19:00 and 20:00.
• The nurse in charge should be contacted if there exceptional circumstances, such as visitors are the parent of sick child or the visit is to a person receiving end of life care.

Image source, Dr Kenny Muir

A doctor has won the overall prize in the latest Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year competition.

Dr Kenny Muir took the top prize with a portfolio of images taken in Glen Affric in the Highlands and Isle of Harris.

News of his win emerged as cases of coronavirus were beginning to rise in Scotland.

Dr Muir works at Inverness' Raigmore Hospital, the largest hospital in the Highlands.

He said: “As a hospital doctor I will be taking a break from photography to focus on current events, but really appreciate receiving the award.”

The full list of winners can be found on the Scottish Landscape Photographer of Year competition website.

Image source, Getty Images

The National Trust for Scotland will now close all of its car parks, gardens and properties in reaction to the weekend's "isolation tourism".

The Trust had previously announced it would leave some gardens, grounds and parkland open for free access during the crisis.

But the decision to go ahead with a blanket closure follows in the light of calls by the Scottish government for people to suspend unnecessary travel, especially to more remote areas, and for the owners of all hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation to close.

The decision was also influenced by a busy weekend at some properties where social distancing guidance was not being followed and the potential threat to the wellbeing of both visitors and the Trust’s staff this was causing.

Angie Brown
Edinburgh and East reporter

Image source, bbc

The centre of Edinburgh would normally be bustling with tourists, office workers and shoppers.

But as more people follow social distancing advice in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus, the capital has begun grinding to a halt.

Edinburgh's main thoroughfare has become a lot quieter with few people walking along Princes Street and many neighbouring streets being deserted.

Many shops and food outlets have closed with others restricting access. Buses are running empty, including the city's sightseeing buses for tourists.

And the capital's iconic park, Princes Street Gardens, is bare apart from some council gardeners cutting the grass and tending the flower beds.

Read more here.

Some staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary are to get free temporary on-street permits to ensure they can get parked during coronavirus efforts.

Aberdeen City Council said it was handing 200 permits to NHS Grampian.

Usually the on-street parking permits are only for local residents as the hospital has dedicated staff parking.

Image source, Ramsay and swan

A uniform branding company in Glasgow has created special T-shirts to help the effort to curb the spread of the virus and to try to raise money for the NHS.

Ramsay and Swan, external specialises in embroidery and printing for work uniforms. Staff wanted to use their expertise to help give back and designed a t-shirt with the message "Two metre, gonna self distance".

Fiona Gregan told the BBC: "The reason we picked the T-shirt was because it was visible and fun to wear, to be seen and noticed at all times.

"We will sell them to raise money for the NHS and are hoping to be able to buy a ventilator.

"For a long time we will have to be cautious and even when the country gets back on its feet, these will remind the public that self-distancing still needs to be carried out."

• The number of coronavirus deaths in Scotland has increased by four to 14
• First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stresses following health advice 'not optional'
• Ms Sturgeon calls on shops which do not provide essentials such as food or medicine to close
• 499 people had tested positive in Scotland for Covid-19 - figures 'likely to be underestimates'

Dr Calderwood warned that people who ignored advice on self-isolation and social distancing risked infecting loved ones.

"The people that you interact with, if they give you coronavirus, you will pass that on to the members of your household," she said.

"You're risking infecting the people you spend most time with, the people you love."

Image source, Getty Images

The role of pharmacists has been expanded to help relieve the pressure on the rest of the NHS.

By increasing the minor ailments service, community pharmacists will be able to extend prescribing, so that NHS medical staff can better tackle the coronavirus crisis.

The minor ailment service – which allows people to have consultations with a member of the pharmacy team for advice on self-care or treatment for minor illnesses and conditions – was previously open to people under the age of 16 and over the age of 60. The service was also income related.

The service is now open to any member of the public who is registered with a GP.

The Scottish government has also accelerated plans to give pharmacists access to the Emergency Care Summary (ECS) data, which mainly contains medication information.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The vital work of community pharmacies up and down the country is key in ensuring that we continue to reduce the burden across the NHS, and patients continue to get the necessary medicines they need to stay healthy.

“Many people visit a community pharmacy every day, with these numbers increasing in the current Covid-19 outbreak.

“This makes them the most accessible healthcare professionals on the front line of community health services, and a valuable resource to NHS Scotland.

“Strengthening the role of pharmacists, and easing some of the pressure from frontline NHS services, is therefore an important step in our wide ranging response to the current crisis.”

Two health boards in Scotland do not have any confirmed cases of coronavirus: Orkney and the Western Isles.

NHS Orkney has now confirmed its Covid-19 assessment centre - announced by the health secretary earlier today - will be at the Old Balfour Hospital site.

Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, has outlined the full scale of the coronavirus crisis in Scotland. Dr Calderwood said each of the 14 deaths so far probably represent up to 1,000 people who have become infected. Read more here.

Image source, getty

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says coronavirus assessment centres will be rolled out to all Scottish health board areas.

People calling NHS 111 with symptoms will be transferred to a hub offering clinical advice.

They may then be referred to an assessment centre on an appointment-only basis.

One of the drive-through centres will be based at Dundee's King's Cross Hospital.

Those referred will be assessed, but not tested, to determine if they are likely to be carrying the virus.

They may then be told to stay at home, or in the most serious cases, transferred to hospital.

Scottish traditional musicians have been posting music to social media to offer some light relief during the coronavirus pandemic.

Using the hashtag #COVIDCeilidh - after Covid-19, the name given to the virus - fiddlers, accordionists and singers have been among those uploading tunes for people to listen to.

Among those posting have been Highlands-based BBC Scotland reporter Iain MacInnes and BBC Gaelic broadcaster Karen Elder.

The videos have had thousands of views.