Ken Banks
BBC Scotland North East and Northern Isles reporter

Image source, Gordon Noble

"What do archaeologists do on lockdown?" was a question Gordon Noble asked himself.

The University of Aberdeen archaeologist's answer? "Dig test pits in the garden - or get the children to do it!"

Six-year-old Stella and Magnus, 10, were clearly up for the challenge.

"A nice assemblage of bits and bobs so far" their father reports.

Catriona Renton
BBC Scotland reporter

People with alcohol problems are among the most vulnerable in society. Experts say they do not want the lockdown to be a reason for alcohol harm to start increasing.

Alcoholic Anonymous has been running online groups for years. Norman, who gave up drinking in 1992, says the organisation has quickly responded to the current crisis by stepping up telephoning, texting and facetiming. Online meetings are happening all over the country.

Dr Peter Rice, who is the chair of the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems steering group, says: “Recovery is all about connection, particularly connecting with people who have been in the same situation you have.”

He adds heavy drinkers coming off alcohol can quickly get ill. His advice is for people worrying about their drinking to take on practical suggestions to reduce it gradually it. However, he also stresses if people do find themselves in difficulty alcohol emergency services are still there for them.

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

Mr Cummings, senior adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is self-isolating at home after developing coronavirus symptoms, a No 10 source has confirmed.

It was confirmed last week that MrJohnson himself had tested positive for the virus and was self-isolating in Downing Street.

Image source, Google

Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead said: "Students remaining at college and university accommodation should stay where they are and not attempt to travel to their family home, even if that is in another part of Scotland."

"Whether they are living in student halls, or private rented accommodation, they should remain there and not travel unless for food, healthcare or essential work."

Providers of student accommodation are being encouraged to be flexible in rental arrangements as the lockdown continues.

Further details and advice about staying at home, and the exceptions for travel can be found on the Scottish Government’s Coronavirus website, external.

More information: https://www.saas.gov.uk/news/coronavirus, external

Aberdeenshire Council has announced that work on the Stonehaven Flood Protection Scheme will be halted due to coronavirus guidelines.

A review took place on the site to make sure it was secure and all necessary flood protection measures were in place before the decision was taken.

The council’s principal engineer Rachel Kennedy said: “Whilst we would like to see the scheme progress, we fully accept that the safety of residents in Stonehaven as well as those working to protect the local community must come first.”

A number has been set up for residents to report any emergencies during this time on 07867 193124. Questions can also be emailed to stonehaven.community@mclh.co.uk, external.

Image source, PA Media

Thirty small businesses, charities, and community groups in Clackmannanshire will not have to pay rent to the local council for the next three months.

Clackmannanshire Council said the individual circumstances of each of these tenants would be reviewed at the end of the deferral period.

Councillor Donald Balsillie said: "As a council, we want to do as much as we can to help those most in need and we would encourage commercial landlords to consider what measures they can take to support their tenants.”

Steven McKenzie
BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter

The Easter school break has started in the Highlands amid the coronavirus lockdown.

In Inverness, city centre streets usually busy with locals and visitors are quiet with almost every shop shut.

Play parks are empty too, with Highland Council closing its sites as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. Signs have appeared at some parks warning of the potential risk of picking up the virus from swings, slides and roundabouts.

Eden Court, the biggest arts venue in the Highlands, closed earlier this month.

Its staff have sought to encourage some positivity with a poster at its entrance reading: "But we'll be back."

Angie Brown
Edinburgh and East reporter

Image source, Sally McGoldrick

An Edinburgh banker has had NHS shaved into the back of his head in tribute to the work doctors and nurses are doing during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Stephen H McGoldrick, 52, who is recovering from cancer surgery at home in the capital, said his son William, 18, cut the letters into his hair.

Mr McGoldrick, who has been cured from the colon cancer operation he had in January, said he wanted to do something to show his support for the NHS.

He said: “I wanted to do it as a mark of respect for what the NHS are doing regarding Coronavirus.”

More than 11,000 people have joined a social media group set up to provide help for the vulnerable in south west Scotland during the coronavirus outbreak.

Helping Dumfries and Galloway, external - set up by local woman Laura Thomas - is now being used by the third sector and the council to pinpoint where help is needed and recruit volunteers.

She said it had demonstrated a strong community spirit in the region at a difficult time.

BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, KEITH BROFSKY

Social Security and Older People Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says the first important message is to stay at home.

She says volunteers can help people as part of their own one trip outside a day - for example by picking up shopping for neighbours whilst shopping for yourself.

Other volunteering can be done from the safety of your own home, such as befriending services she adds.

Alan Stevenson from Volunteer Scotland, external welcomes this, adding a key element will be providing emotional support as well as practical support.

People are being asked to go to the Ready Scotland website, external if they are healthy and wish to volunteer.

Read the story here.

Angie Brown
Edinburgh and East reporter

An Edinburgh city farm is looking for volunteers with vet and animal caring experience to help during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Although Love Gorgie Farm is currently operating as a foodbank and is closed to visitors their team is still working behind closed doors to take care of the animals

The owner is now looking to build a database of volunteers who would be able to step in if any members of the team fell sick or needed to self-isolate.

The farm opened its doors to the public last month after the previous farm on the site went into liquidation in November.

Image source, Kinga Bellan

BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

On Mornings with Kaye Adams... chairman of BMA Scotland's GP committee Andrew Buist says practices have been turned upside down as they develop processes to deal with Covid-19.

But as things begin to settle down, GPs should be able to begin "sensible accommodations" for those who need it which may include teaching patients to self administer medication he explains.

Dr Buist says every day GPs are still dealing with non-Covid related illness while adapting to social distancing measures.

We've noticed a significant drop off in the number of minor illnesses coming to GP surgeries he adds.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

The spread of coronavirus in the UK is showing "early signs" of slowing down since the lockdown, according to a leading government adviser.

Strict measures came into place across the country a week ago.

Prof Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, says some indicators, such as the numbers of new hospital admissions per day, suggest the spread does "appear to be slowing down a little bit".

He told the BBC's Today programme that the numbers hadn't "plateaued" yet and were still increasing each day, "but the rate of that increase has slowed".

However, he added that this pattern hadn't been reflected in the number of deaths - but these usually lagged a long way behind.

A new national public health body will be established in Scotland on Wednesday.

Public Health Scotland is to look at improving wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.

Establishment of the body was agreed in June 2018 and was initially expected to begin operating in 2019. This was later pushed to 1 April 2020.

Its first challenge will be to respond to Covid-19.

With more of us working from home, it is more important than ever to ensure cyber security.

Here are some tips from Police Scotland and Cyber Scotland...