Due to the rapidly changing situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) the Scottish government is to temporarily pause a number of screening programmes.

In practice this means no additional patients will be invited for screening until further notice.

Results for those who have recently been screened or who have completed and returned home test kits will continue to be processed.

The move means healthcare staff can be re-allocated to support other essential services, including COVID-19 laboratory testing and covering for colleagues who are unwell or self-isolating.

The paused programmes are as follows:

• Breast Screening (mammograms)
• Cervical Screening (smear tests)
• Bowel Screening (home test kits)
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening (ultrasound of abdomen)
• Diabetic Retinopathy (Eye) Screening (images taken of the eye)

Pregnancy and Newborn Screening Programmes, including tests offered during pregnancy and just after birth, will continue where logistically practical.

Image source, bbc

Asked whether the temporary hospital at Glasgow's SEC will be just for Covid-19 patients and whether it will have a morgue, the first minister says these issues about being considered now.

The CMO says detailed modelling on the types of beds likely to needed and equipment required is underway.

Hospitals will always have a mortuary so this is also something we are looking at adds Dr Calderwood.

Ms Sturgeon adds patients may not need to be admitted to the temporary hospital and it may not be required but it is a contingency measure.

Image source, bbc

The chief medical officer says the measures will be reviewed in 2-3 weeks time when there will be a much clearer picture of their effect across Scotland.

We expect a peak in 2-3 weeks so I would be pessimistic there will be any change to the stringent measures she adds.

She explains the Scottish specific Covid-19 advisory group is to ensure the data for Scotland is available.

Image source, SEC

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman stresses the need for people to stay at home and highlights efforts to quadruple the ICU capacity.

The SEC in Glasgow has been assessed as the best option to increase the capacity beyond the NHS estate, she says.

This will be a temporary hospital staffed by the NHS and Jill Young has been appointed chief executive of the facility.

The first 300 beds will be in place in a fortnight with the potential to raise that to 1,000.

The health secretary highlights work under way with the Army to establish this new temporary hospital.

Scotland's chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood reiterates that official figures are an underestimate of the virus in the community and urges people to minimise contact outwith households.

Pausing cancer screening programmes was taken with "very careful thought and deliberation" she says, though she highlights many people were already missing appointments.

We will contact people due to be screened during this three month period again so they do not miss out.

Dr Calderwood suggests people watch out for symptoms cancer screenings would be looking for and seek help to discuss them.

Pregnant women and newborn babies will continue to be screened with no change to that programme, she adds.

The first minister says in the four hours since Scotland Cares was launched, 10,000 people have registered their interest.

The ‘Scotland Cares’ campaign has been launched to encourage people to volunteer during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

1. To volunteer in your community, sign up here: reserves.redcross.org.uk, external
2. To support other charities and groups operating in your community, register here: search.volunteerscotland.net/coronavirus/, external
3. To return to the NHS or social care, apply here: careers.nhs.scot/coronavirus-co…, external
4. If you are running a business and would like to offer help, here’s the email address: covid19response@gov.scot

It’s all pulled together here: readyscotland.org/coronavirus/, external

Remember you must be healthy and well and follow the public health advice, available at NHS inform, external.

Ms Sturgeon says as part of the wider campaign Scotland Cares, we are encouraging healthcare students and retired NHS staff to contact the Scottish government.

The first minister says about 5,000 students or former health care workers have now expressed an interest and many will be offered fixed term employment.

Ms Sturgeon says the government has decided to suspend NHS breast, cervical and bowel screening.

This has been made on clinical advice, she says.

The first minister adds that more information on this can be found at NHS inform.

However, if you detect any symptoms, like a lump in your breast, you should still contact your GP.

She adds this is a temporary measure and will be reviewed after 12 weeks or earlier if possible.

Image source, bbc

The first minister repeats the key central message that helping the NHS is a job for "each and everyone of us", by staying at home and staying apart we are all doing our bit and saving lives.

Nicola Sturgeon says she wants to give an update on three key aspects of the response to the outbreak:

Firstly, she confirms that work has started on the SEC in Glasgow to make it into a temporary NHS hospital, operational within a fortnight and providing 300 additional beds initially, rising to 1,000.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms a further six deaths of people with coronavirus, bringing the total to 47.

• 1,563 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Scotland, up by 179 from yesterday she says.
• Ms Sturgeon says 108 people are in intensive care units, up 13 from yesterday.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will hold a media briefing on coronavirus from around 12.30pm today.

It's expected she will be accompanied by Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood and Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.

Here are the main developments today so far:

• Scotland's death toll is 41, with 95 people currently in intensive care - the first minister will update these figures at the media briefing
• Scotland Cares is launched, bringing together healthy volunteers with the health and care sectors and to help in communities - go to readyscotland.org, external

Mental health charity Samaritans is continuing its operations as much as practicable throughout this time.

If you are struggling, you can phone their helpline on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org - though response times may be longer than usual.

People out for their daily exercise are being told not to touch animals as Coronavirus can live on their coats.

It comes as dog walkers are being asked to keep their pets on leads so everyone can observe social distancing.

A sign in the Pentland Hills on the edge of Edinburgh warns passersby not to touch horses in fields.

The plea is to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Image source, Donald Sandeman