Image source, LAURA DODSWORTH

Charities which support women experiencing violence have been given an extra £1.5m from the Scottish government.

Scottish Women's Aid will received the bulk of this funding, £1.35m, over the next six months. Rape Crisis Scotland will receive £226,309.

The grants come from the £350m Communities Fund to ensure access to key support services is maintained and victims still have access to methods of reporting crimes.

Tomorrow marks one year since the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act came into force.

Dr Marsha Scott from Scottish Women’s Aid said: “Domestic abuse is not taking a break for this virus and that robust implementation of the new law is now more urgent and important than ever."

NHS Western Isles says two people in the Western Isles have tested positive for the coronavirus, the first cases since recording for the virus in Scotland began.

The two people are based on the Isle of Lewis.

NHS Western Isles said: "To protect patient confidentiality, we will not be providing any further details of the individuals. NHS Western Isles is now taking steps to identify possible routes of infection."

The UK's police officers have been told to take a "consistent" approach when ensuring people comply with emergency measures aimed at curbing coronavirus.

The call is from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing.

It comes amid criticism of the way some forces have handled the new measures.

On Monday, Police Scotland thanked members of the public and businesses for adhering to new measures. A total of 25 fixed penalties were issued over the weekend, but the force said the vast majority of people were complying.

BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is to take a 25% wage deferral as part of a series of measures during the coronavirus pandemic, Scottish Rugby has announced.

Townsend and his counterparts at Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh, Dave Rennie and Richard Cockerill, have agreed to the same measures from April until the end of August 2020.

All SRU board members are also deferring payments with chief executive Mark Dodson taking a 30% drop to his salary until August.

The measures have been put in place to help sustain the business operation during the outbreak.

Pauline McLean
BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

Image source, Edinburgh International Harp Festival

As we await news from Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe, along with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival and Edinburgh Art Festival (a pan festival announcement is expected this week) news of one festival which will go ahead, virtually.

The Edinburgh International Harp Festival, which was due to begin on Friday, has now launched a virtual edition which will replace their planned event. It will include free tutorials and performances from harpists from around the world.

It will also include two concerts which will allow harpists to join in from their places of isolation. Details can be found on the event's website., external

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Offshore oil and gas workers at risk of redundancy have struck a deal with operators to ensure they can benefit from the government's Job Retention Scheme.

That covers 80% of normal pay for up to three months when they cannot work due to the health crisis.

The Unite union is also welcoming the terms of a deal with employers that would protect those with underlying health conditions from being put at risk of infection at work.

The first minister outlined a number of developments in today's media briefing;

• 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

Image source, bbc

• unprecedented emergency legislation will cover the continuing functioning of the justice system and protection for tenants
• the provisions will not remain in force longer than necessary
• just over 6% of Scotland's NHS staff are off work
• testing of key workers is under way
• £1.5m is announced to tackle domestic abuse and victims are encouraged to seek help
• the virus is being spread in Scotland's communities in all age groups over 15 years old

Image source, bbc

The next question at the first minister's briefing is from Alistair Grant of The Herald about reports that suspension of the Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe are expected to be announced tomorrow.

Edinburgh's other festivals are expected to follow suit thereafter, Mr Grant adds.

The first minister says the culture secretary is in discussions about this with cultural organisations, but this is a decision for the festivals to take and announce.

Asked about support for Loganair, the first minister says the government has been working closely with the firm to protect key services between the islands and mainland.

On changing court procedures, the first minister warns the alternative would be for trials not to proceed.

Mr Russell adds the government is listening to all concerns but at the moment there is no alternative if justice processes are to move forward.

Scotland's chief medical officer says we are seeing more cases in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which has the largest population, than in other health boards.

"That is not anything other than we would expect," Dr Catherine Calderwood says.

"We have not identified individual clusters that are causing us concern on a geographical area basis," she says.

Gina Davidson from the Scotsman asks the first minister if more needs to be done on domestic violence during the coronavirus lockdown, given the spikes elsewhere in the world.

"Yes I think there is a need to keep a very, very close eye on this," replies Ms Sturgeon.

Police Scotland are considering this issue now, she says, and the government will continue to look at the resources for frontline organisations.

If anyone feels they need advice and support please call 0800 027 1234.

The first minister says UK's government's emergency Cobra committee has been a helpful process.

But she says she has "no interest at all in party political or inter-governmental bickering".

Ms Sturgeon says she wants to do her very best and apply her best judgement to the scientific advice she is given.

She says she will not shy away from changing the direction of travel as the science is updated.

The first minister tells her media briefing she does not have concerns that criminal trials taking place without juries will lead to miscarriages of justice.

Ms Sturgeon also emphasises the power to release prisoners early will only be used as a last resort.

Constitution minister Michael Russell says prison governors will not release anyone who poses an immediate risk so ,for example, those convicted of sexual offences will not be released under the bill.

There are very strong safeguards and the power can't be used without regulations, the constitution secretary says.

"The power has to be there in case it is needed," he adds.

About 16% of NHS Tayside staff who have been tested have been positive for coronavirus, a questioner says.

Ms Sturgeon says the number of people off work in the health and social care sector will rise, as it will elsewhere.

But what we must do is try get NHS workers back to work as quickly as possible, she says.

The first minister says the health and social care sector has always assumed a number of people will not be able to work throughout this crisis.

The chief medical officer adds the healthcare workers coming back from having the virus means they will be safe to treat patients.

On using private healthcare beds, the first minister says plans are in place but she adds the private sector in Scotland is smaller than elsewhere in the UK.

We want to have as much contingency as possible, Ms Sturgeon says, with plans for a capacity of 3,000 beds even without the temporary hospital.

In response to a question, asking whether some employers are playing fast and loose with the definition of essential workers, Ms Sturgeon says the government is looking at whether more guidance can clarify the dos and don'ts.

She says the vast majority of employers are paying heed to the guidance.

The first minister says businesses must consider if what they are doing is important to the wellbeing of the country.

She says they should also consider if they can allow people to work from home or at least provide safe environments where social distancing and other public health advice can be followed.

Ms Sturgeon says that if businesses are in doubt, then they should err on the side of protecting public health and protecting people’s lives.