Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon says new rules amount to 'lockdown' - first minister's statement in parliament now

  • The number of coronavirus deaths in Scotland has increased to 16

  • Those who have tested positive for Covid-19 stands at 584

  • MSPs back the emergency Coronavirus Bill, consenting to it taking effect in Scotland

  • All shops selling non essential goods and services have been told they must close

  • Public gatherings of more than two people who do not live together are to be prohibited

  1. Goodbye from the Scotland Live pagepublished at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Broughty Ferry

    Thanks for joining us on the Scotland Live page today. Here's a summary of the main developments on the first day of "lockdown" in the UK:

    We'll back with more updates tomorrow morning. Goodnight.

  2. 'No one could imagine the situation we're in today'published at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Dr Broderick

    A Scottish scientist who is working to create a coronavirus vaccine says her team hopes to have one million doses available by the end of the year.

    Speaking from San Diego, Dr Kate Broderick told the BBC's Reporting Scotland that a vaccine developed by pharmaceutical company Inovio was going into human clinical trials in April - "remarkably fast".

    But rolling it out more widely "is going to take time", the molecular geneticist said.

    "I don't think anyone could have imagined it was going to get to the situation we're in today", she said - before urging people to follow the advice and stay at home.

    "We have no way to treat this virus outbreak. If we don't stay at home this virus is going to get so much worse."

  3. Humanitarian aid centres being set up across the Borderspublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    A network of Humanitarian Aid Centres (HACs) is being established across the region by Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, the third sector and local resilient community groups.

    The HACs will aim to ensure that teams are able to respond "flexibly and appropriately" to the needs of individuals in self-isolation or "shielding" following receipt of a letter from Scottish government in the coming days.

    The council said more information about how people could contact the HACs would be provided as soon as possible. They will not be open for public access.

  4. Coronavirus: Your questions answeredpublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    #BBCYourQuestions

    Daniel Sandford
    Home Affairs Correspondent

    With regard to the rules about exercise, am I allowed to drive to the park and then walk there?

    This is quite a controversial one. I think strictly according to what the government says it is absolutely OK, because if you are going somewhere where there are fewer people then it should be allowed.

    But a lot of people are criticising that, saying it is unnecessary travel.

    The key thing is the government wants you not to do lots of unnecessary things and ministers understand you will want to take exercise.

    If you can take it as far away from other people as possible - and that might be by driving to a park where not many people are - then great. If you drive to the park and everyone else has driven to the park then that’s not OK.

    The government wants people to make common-sense decisions.

  5. Setting up of assessment centres in Highlandspublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Thirteen centres for providing triage and assessment of coronavirus cases are being set up in the NHS Highland area, including in Inverness.

    NHS Highland said the move was in line with government measures to protect health boards' ability to deal with patients suffering from other ailments.

    The health board said: "To be clear, turning up to any of our assessment centres is based on appointment only via NHS24 by dialling 111."

  6. Deaths up but new cases down again in Italypublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Italy is currently the worst-affected nation, with 6,820 now reported dead from coronavirus, according to the latest figures.

    But the rate of infection has seemingly slowed there in the last few days, raising hopes that strict social-distancing measures are having an effect.

    On Tuesday, Italian officials said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had jumped by 3,612 to 69,176, which is about a 1% decrease in new cases on the previous day.

    BBC Rome correspondent Mark Lowen said the continued slowing of new cases in Italy is “starting to look like a trend”, external.

    The outbreak is far from under control yet, however.

    Earlier, Angelo Borrelli, Italy's civil protection chief, told newspaper La Repubblica it was "credible" to estimate the numbers of infected are 10 times higher in reality.

    "In the next few hours… we will see if the growth curve is really flattening," he told the paper.

  7. Production of Buckfast suspendedpublished at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Makers of the tonic wine - which is popular in parts of Scotland - say the decision will protect its staff and free up its distribution network for vital commodities.

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  8. Prisons closed to visitorspublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said all jails were now closed to visitors and inmates showing Covid-19 symptoms were self-isolating.

    Barlinnie JailImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Barlinnie jail in Glasgow, stock image

    Mr Yousaf also told the Scottish Parliament he couldn't rule out releasing prisoners early if it helps keep staff and inmates safe during the coronavirus crisis.

    He said an incident at HMP Addiewell in West Lothian in which two officers were injured was an example of the “challenging conditions” facing prisons.

    The Daily Record earlier reported that prisoners had "smashed up" a wing , externalat the privately-run jail

  9. Glasgow health board says steps taken to improve hand hygienepublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    In response to concerns about hand hygiene at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said they had taken steps to improve hand hygiene.

    The QEUH's director of public health, Dr Linda de Caestecker, said she agreed hand hygiene was "absolutely crucial", but added that the hospital did want people to use hand sanitiser as soon as they arrived at the hospital.

    She said there was plenty in the atrium and they had improved signage so more people noticed them.

    She added that there were more sanitisers throughout the hospital, adding that ward staff "always" encourage use of these.

    Dr de Caestecker added that there was already restricted visiting, with conversations ongoing about restricting it further.

  10. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde criticised over hand hygienepublished at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    fiona hendersonImage source, fiona henderson

    A senior doctor who raised concerns over hand hygiene at Scotland's largest hospital last week has said things have not improved - despite the reassurances she was given by health board officials.

    Dr Fiona Henderson, who works as a consultant anaesthetist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, said hand sanitisers were not clearly sign-posted at main public entrances and suggested some supermarkets were doing a better job at cleaning public spaces.

    Last week, the hospital's medical director vowed to look into installing better signs.

    But on Tuesday, Dr Henderson spoke out again as she feels not enough has been done.

    She added that her managers have told her not to speak out as she was "frightening the public".

  11. 'You are the frontline in war against virus'published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Mr Hancock tells NHS and social care staff they are "the frontline in the war against this virus".

    He adds that he will "strain every sinew" to keep them safe.

    It comes after criticism that healthcare staff do not have adequate protective equipment.

  12. Scots campsites and caravan parks to closepublished at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Visitors staying at leisure parks in Scotland have been asked to go home to help tackle coronavirus.

    Read More
  13. UK health secretary: New steps 'are not requests, they are rules'published at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Matt Hancock

    The latest UK government press conference – this time led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock - has started.

    Mr Hancock has said the steps outlined on Monday "are not requests, they are rules".

    He says "everyone has a responsibility to follow those rules" and calls on the country to come together in the national effort.

    Mr Hancock also adds that a new hospital will be opened at London's Excel Centre.

    The new NHS Nightingale Hospital will consist of two wards and hold up to 4,000 patients.

    The virus is thought to have spread further in London than it has in Scotland so far.

    Follow live updates here.

  14. MSPs consent to emergency Coronavirus Billpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Chamber in Holyrood

    All parties back the Coronavirus Bill, external and the Scottish Parliament therefore consents to it taking effect in Scotland.

    It will see enforcement powers - to ensure non-essential businesses close and social distancing measures are observed - come into force as soon as the legislation is enacted.

    The bill is expected to be passed at Westminster tomorrow.

    The Local Government Finance Order 2020 has also been passed by MSPs to ensure councils have flexibility in responding to coronavirus.

  15. Visiting times suspended by some Scottish health boardspublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    NHS Lothian has announced that from today visiting times at its hospitals will be suspended, as has NHS Grampian.

    NHS Western Isles has also closed all its hospitals to visitors with immediate effect.

  16. Tiree GP calls for community testingpublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Twelve households on the island are currently self-isolating.

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  17. UK death toll rises by 87published at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    There have been 87 deaths caused by coronavirus in the UK since Monday, taking the total to 422 - according to the latest government figures.

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  18. Scottish fish exports 'decimated' by coronavirus outbreakpublished at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    FishingImage source, Getty images

    The coronavirus outbreak has“decimated” sales of Scottish fish around the world, it has been revealed.

    Fish is exported to more than 100 countries from Scotland and is ordinarily transported in the cargo hold of passenger planes.

    Trade body Seafood Scotland said the grounding of so many aircraft has created huge problems for the industry.

    Skippers and crew are being advised to continue fishing but a review of the size of landings and days at sea allowed is being considered.

    The one bright spot for the sector is Seafood Scotland reports a trebling in sales at independent fishmongers.

    And the Scottish government is expected to announce a package of support for the industry later this week.

  19. River City donating medical props to help NHSpublished at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    River CityImage source, bbc Scotland

    BBC Scotland’s River City is donating medical props - to help the NHS in the fight against Coronavirus.

    This includes gloves, masks and scrubs, which would normally have been used by actors for filming.

    River City’s executive producer, Kieran Hannigan said “this was our chance to make a small contribution and help the amazing people at the NHS. Thank you from all of us.

  20. Minecraft offers free lessons to childrenpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    The 12 digital lessons will be available to download until the end of June.

    Read More