Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon says 13 further deaths were recorded, taking the total to 60 in Scotland

  • A total of 1,993 people have tested positive, that is up by 430

  • There are 135 people currently in intensive care beds - up 27 on Monday

  • UK health officials says the nationwide stay at home advice is "making a difference"

  • There have been more than 800,000 cases worldwide, with 38,000 dead; 170,000 have recovered

  • Scottish government emergency legislation sets out urgent action to protect tenants and reforms criminal justice procedures

  1. Gove: Every death is loss of loved onepublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    michael gove

    Michael Gove starts by outlining the latest figures for the number of those in the UK who have tested positive and the number of those who sadly have died.

    He says every death is the "loss of a loved one" and expresses his sympathies to the bereaved families.

  2. UK press conference startspublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Senior minister Michael Gove now opens the daily UK press conference on the coronavirus.

  3. UK government press conference starting soonpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    We're expecting the daily Downing St press conference to start at 17:00 BST.

    PM Boris Johnson is still working from home, having been diagnosed with coronavirus, so today's conference is being led by Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove.

    He'll be joined by Dr Jenny Harries, the UK's deputy chief medical officer, and NHS England's national medical director, Dr Stephen Powis.

  4. Lockdown 'provides more opportunities for abuse'published at 16:55 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    On BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime John Beattie asked the chief executive of Scottish Women's Aid what makes people more susceptible to domestic abuse during lockdown.

    Quote Message

    I don't think it is really so much that they are more susceptible to abuse. It is just that lockdown provides more opportunities to control and abuse

    Dr Marsha Scott, Chief executive of Scottish Women's Aid

  5. 10% wage cut for SFA and SPFLpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Chris McLaughlin
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell
    Image caption,

    Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell will see his wage cut too

    Staff at the Scottish FA and the SPFL have taken a 10% wage cut, with dozens being forced on to the government job retention scheme.

    Wage increases and annual bonuses have also been waived in a bid to combat the financial implications of the coronavirus.

    Some key board members have deferred the majority of their wages for the next three months.

    The Scottish FA employs about 170 people. The SPFL have a staff of about 20.

    Those included in the cuts include the Scotland manager Steve Clarke and the Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell.

  6. Emergency coronavirus bill is a big onepublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Brian Taylor
    BBC Scotland Political Editor

    The emergency coronavirus bill was introduced today and will go before the Scottish Parliament in a special session tomorrow.

    It is expected it will go through all three stages of scrutiny in a single day, with of course the co-operation of the opposition parties.

    It is a 68-page bill. It is the largest piece of emergency legislation ever tabled before Holyrood in 20 years which reflects the extent of the crisis we are facing.

    I'll pull out two big ones:

    Tenants' rights - a series of measures to try to protect them from eviction if they fall behind on their rent because of a change in their economic circumstances because of coronavirus.

    Court rules - Extending the time limits for criminal proceedings, more trials could be delayed, more trials with no juries, evidence over the internet and powers for the government to release some prisoners early should prison officers be ill or prison levels are dangerous.

    What's in Scotland's emergency coronavirus bill?

  7. Latest developments in Scotland: 60 deaths due to coronavirus confirmedpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    • a further 13 people have died due to coronavirus, taking the total to 60 deaths in Scotland
    • 1,993 people have tested positive for Covid-19, up 430 from yesterday
    • 135 people are being treated in intensive care while there are 1,073 suspected or confirmed cases in hospitals
    • unprecedented emergency legislation which covers changes to the justice system and protection for tenants will be debated at Holyrood tomorrow
    The CMO, first minister and constitution secretary faced questions from journalists via video-linkImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The first minister, CMO and constitution secretary faced questions from journalists via video-link

    • just over 6% of Scotland's NHS staff are off work due to the virus and testing of key workers is under way
    • £1.5m is announced for Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland as fears of a spike in domestic abuse are raised
    • GP practices in Scotland are to get an extra £15m to stay open on Good Friday and Easter Monday
    • Shetland Super Puma helicopter crash FAI is adjourned due to the coronavirus
    • Edinburgh's festivals look set to be scaled back
  8. D-Day veteran dies from coronaviruspublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    A British D-Day veteran, who was awarded France's highest military honour, has died after contracting coronavirus.

    Harold Pearsall, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, tested positive for Covid-19 while at hospital in Birmingham on Friday and died on Sunday aged 97.

    Mr Pearsall, who took part in the Allied assault on Caen in 1944, received the Légion d'Honneur in 2015.

    Read more here.

    D-Day veteran Harold PearsallImage source, TNT news
  9. MSPs return to Holyrood tomorrow to debate emergency Covid-19 legislationpublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post 2

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post 2
  10. Supermarkets lift some restrictionspublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    People queuing 2m apart outside a supermarketImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    People queuing 2m apart outside a supermarket

    Aldi, Morrisons, Waitrose and Asda are easing restrictions on some of their products which were imposed in the wake of stockpiling earlier this month.

    All the major supermarkets restricted customers to buying fixed amounts of individual items to keep shelves full.

    Aldi is now scrapping limits completely on all but a few items, while Morrisons, Waitrose and Asda have also removed some limits and changed others.

    Read more.

  11. Edinburgh festivals likely to be 'scaled-back'published at 16:10 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Pauline McLean
    BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

    Edinburgh Military TattooImage source, Getty Images

    In normal times, the Edinburgh International Festival would have launched its 2020 programme and the Edinburgh Fringe would be compiling its own telephone directory-sized schedule for the 50,000-plus performances due to be staged in the city this summer.

    But these aren't normal times.

    Instead, both festivals have been consulting with the Scottish government, City of Edinburgh Council, venues, partners and stakeholders to decide what, if any, of their 2020 programmes can go ahead.

    A pan-festival announcement - involving the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo - is expected this week.

    It's likely to involve a scaled-down version of events, rather than complete cancellation. Digital performances, if possible, from international participants. Local organisations could be prepared to stage work at relatively short notice

  12. Super Puma FAI adjourned due to virus measurespublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Ken Banks
    BBC Scotland North East and Northern Isles reporter

    A fatal accident inquiry into a helicopter crash which killed four people off Shetland will be delayed due to coronavirus measures.

    A total of 18 people were on board when the Super Puma crashed in 2013.

    Passengers Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin, Gary McCrossan, 59, from Inverness, Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, and George Allison, 57, from Winchester, died.

    The FAI scheduled for May has been adjourned.

    Sarah Darnley, Gary McCrossan, Duncan Munro and George Allison
  13. Keep eyes and ears open for child at risk of abusepublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

    If you are worried about a child, don’t hesitate to contact your local authority social work department - you can find details by clicking on the link here, external - or call the police on 101.

  14. Are you a key worker? John Beattie wants to hear from youpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

    As well as hearing from key workers across Scotland, Drivetime will feature:

    • analysis of the Scottish government's emergency coronavirus legislation and the latest developments emerging from Nicola Sturgeon's media briefing
    • Scottish Women's Aid chief executive Marsha Scott on increased risk of domestic abuse and the announcement of £1.5m to tackle it
    • Scotland's biggest voluntary sector social care provider calling for PPE for staff
    • a Zumba teacher from Prestwick who has recovered from coronavirus
    • all the latest coronavirus outbreak developments from around Scotland and the world
  15. More support for workers made redundant due to Covid-19published at 15:46 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

  16. 'Wash your hands and we will fight this coronavirus'published at 15:40 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

  17. Coronavirus: 1,801 people have now died across the UKpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    A further 393 people with coronavirus have died in the UK in the past day - the biggest daily total so far.

    A total of 1,801 people have now died with the virus across the UK, including 367 more in England, 13 in Scotland, seven in Wales and six in Northern Ireland.

  18. Major spike in Covid-19 cases in Taysidepublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Covid-19Image source, Getty Images

    Latest Scottish government figures, external show 15,895 tests have now been carried out across the country.

    The first minister earlier said delays to reporting over the weekend contributed to an increase in total test figures.

    This is most acute in NHS Tayside where the number of positive cases has almost doubled from 108 to 214.

    In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 98 new cases were recorded, taking the total to 547.

    Elsewhere NHS Lothian now has 269 cases, up 61, while in NHS Lanarkshire the total is now 244, an increase of 47.

    NHS Western Isles has now confirmed two people have tested positive for the coronavirus, the first cases seen there.

  19. Confused? Here is where to find the latest advicepublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Woman looking confused next to graphic of virus

    There is a flood of information appearing across news channels and social media and it can be difficult to keep on top of the latest advice.

    So here are our top tips of five places to go to answer your questions...

    1. NHS Inform, external

    The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing and stay at home advice.

    2. Ready Scotland, external

    Staying at home does not mean you are alone - there are many ways you can help your community.

    3. Citizens Advice Scotland, external

    Providing advice on benefits and employment rights.

    4. Business Support, external

    The latest advice and support for businesses.

    5. Parent Club, external

    Useful information on how to cope with home schooling and keeping your family safe.

  20. £15m for GP practices in Scotland to stay open on Good Friday and Easter Mondaypublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    GP and ambulanceImage source, bbc

    Additional funding of £15 million will be provided to GP practices in Scotland to help them cope with extra pressures arising from coronavirus (COVID-19).

    The Scottish government says around a third of the funding is intended to allow practices to remain open on Good Friday and Easter Monday if it is safe to do so – helping to alleviate pressures on out-of-hours services.

    The remainder will help to cover costs of equipment, additional non-clinical staff, GP partners and locum cover for sickness leave.

    Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I want to thank all GP practice staff for their incredible hard work throughout this pandemic.

    "Working with the Scottish GP Committee of BMA Scotland we have agreed a package of additional funding for GP practices to help them meet some of the costs of responding to COVID-19."