The minor injuries unit at the New Victoria hospital in Glasgow has closed to patients.

The health board said this was due to a significant reduction in the number of people using the service. Patients should instead attend the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital MIU.

Residents of the Highlands and Islands have been thanked by police for following advice on how to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

People are being asked to socially distance and stay at home for most of the day. Police also have powers to disperse gatherings and shut non-essential businesses.

Divisional commander George Macdonald said: “High-visibility patrols have been in place right across the Highland and Islands since enforcement powers were introduced and it is clear that the vast majority of people are complying with the measures.

"Where our officers have encountered people outside, they’ve been able to engage with them or educate them on why it’s so important to follow the guidance from our public health experts in order to save lives.

"Whilst we obviously have powers to issue penalty notices, this is very much a last resort and thankfully to date my officers have not had to resort to this measure."

NHS Western Isles has brought in new measures at the largest hospital on the islands to further restrict the chance of coronavirus spreading.

Patients' laundry will be done at Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway until further notice.

Families and friends of patients admitted to hospital have also been asked to contact ward staff about the dropping off of clothes.

The health board said no bags should be dropped off for patients without prior agreement.

The Western Isles is the only health board area not to have a confirmed case of coronavirus.

Image source, Getty Images

On 24 March, the UK government announced it would turn the ExCeL Centre in London's Docklands area into a temporary hospital to cope with patients affected by Covid-19 and work began almost immediately.

It is due to open this week. Take a look of photos of its transformation.

Meanwhile, the SEC in Glasgow is set to become a temporary hospital. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it could be up and running within two weeks.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, SEC

Spain has recorded 849 new deaths related to coronavirus, the highest number in 24 hours in the country since the outbreak began.

The national death toll is now at 8,189, according to the health ministry.

Spain is the worst-hit country in Europe after Italy.

Follow world-wide news on the coronavirus outbreak here.

Iain Macinnes
BBC Scotland

Image source, Jennifer Keyes

A group of schoolchildren from Northern Italy have been offering some advice to Scottish youngsters currently in lockdown due to coronovirus.

Their teacher – who is originally from the Highlands - came up with the idea, and was blown away by the response.

Among the advice is a how to get along with your brothers and sisters, a lockdown bucket-list – but most of all – the message from these children is that we are all in this together.

Jennifer Keyes, from Inverness, teaches at a school outside Milan near Monza, which is in Lombardy, an area badly affected by coronavirus.

She said: "The children I work with have been living through restrictions for over a month so I thought who better to pass on some words of advice than themselves.

"I thought it could also give them a boost putting out these messages of solidarity and unity to people their age who they perhaps they might never meet but to show that they are all in this together.

Image source, Jennifer Keyes

NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council have issued a reminder of the importance of adhering to guidelines.

The local authority's chief executive Tracey Logan said: “Everyone must play their part during this challenging time.

"Unfortunately, we are hearing reports of some residents ignoring this advice and putting lives at risk, including their own.

"The social distancing guidance is for everyone and we should all be avoiding any contact with people outside our immediate family in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus."

Image source, Reuters

Messages of unity and solidarity with those combating the pandemic were projected on to Giza’s Great Pyramid by Egypt’s government on Monday night.

“Thank you to those keeping us safe”, “Stay at home” and “Stay safe”, said the messages in Arabic and English.

Image source, AFP

Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross has paid tribute to a fan of the band who has died of coronavirus.

On Twitter he dedicated a moving performance of Dignity to Bill Cox.

Pauline McLean
BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

Pipers across the country are being asked to show their support for the NHS on Thursday.

The National Piping Centre is urging pipers to go into their gardens, or stand on their doorsteps at 8pm BST on Thursday to play Scotland the Brave.

Finlay MacDonald, Head of Piping Studies at the centre said: “They can strike up in their living rooms, wherever you can play safely and still keep socially distant and play Scotland the Brave to support #NHStheBrave.”

"This rousing tune will demonstrate the gratitude to key workers across the nation, supporting those who are helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic as well as hopefully fortifying them to carry on through this tough time,"

BBC Radio Scotland

More people are deciding to tackle DIY projects and many are exercising more during this lockdown period.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane says: "Put the power tools down."

Or at least be very careful because the last thing the NHS needs is people having accidents, he says.

On exercise, Dr Gulhane says plenty of people will come out healthier because daily exercise (which they may not get on an average day) is the one thing to look forward to.

Image source, NHS Tayside

A 70-year-old Invergowrie man and his family have thanked NHS staff after he spent 11 days in hospital being treated for COVID-19.

Ken Clark was discharged from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee at the weekend.

Ward 3 staff nurse Ashley Gunn said: "Ken said he was overwhelmed by the dedication of the staff and asked us to take a photo with him to highlight his positive outcome.”

Ken’s daughter Laura Meach, who is a radiographer at Ninewells, said: “When he made it home we announced it with a ‘breaking news’ video featuring my four-year-old son Lewis."

Image source, MJ Richardson

The figure emerged as the number of cases of Covid-19 reached 63 in the NHS Borders area.

A total of 47 people across Scotland who have tested positive have now died.

Staff at Borders General Hospital have opened a third dedicated ward for patients with the coronavirus.

Neighbouring NHS Dumfries and Galloway also confirmed its first deaths on Monday.