Nicola Sturgeon also told Scots not to be overly confident about the death rate in Scotland being lower than in England, following comments made by experts.

She said: "Let's not lull ourselves into a false sense of security. Hopefully what we have done and the stage we've done it will mean that our peak will be lower, but we don't know that for sure yet."

She also said she does not think border patrols with England will be necessary.

The first minister said that "in all likelihood, it would be a phased approach" in a return to normality.

But she stressed that she could not say so categorically at this stage as there was not enough data or evidence to base such judgements on.

Image source, Getty Images

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon became emotional after saying the first thing she wants to do once the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted is to hug her parents.

During an hour-long interview with Bauer Media's Ewan Cameron, the SNP leader sounded emotional as she shared how much she was looking forward to seeing her relatives in person again

"Like most people, I'm trying to keep in touch with my family over FaceTime and Skype, whereas previously we would've (just) phoned each other because we could (also) go and see each other.

"I'm doing all these things as well. But giving my mum and dad a hug and hug my niece and go and wish my nephew a proper happy birthday, see my mother-in-law who's in a particularly vulnerable position.

"All these things, just like everybody else, I really look forward to do - you're going to make me emotional now."

A new air ambulance is taking to the skies from Friday.

Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) has launched its second life-saving emergency response helicopter, which is based at Aberdeen International Airport.

Founding chairman John Bullough said: "There's never been a more crucial time for additional emergency pre-hospital care resources."

SCAA has operated since 2013 from its base at Perth Airport.

Image source, Getty Images

Medical chiefs are hopeful that the new Louisa Jordan hospital, being built at the SEC in Glasgow, will not be needed.

Prof Jason Leitch told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland that they have massively increased capacity in the existing health service.

He said that, together with supression measures like social-distancing, the new capacity will allow the health service to cope with the surge.

The construction of the 1,000-bed new hospital was preparation for a worst-case scenario, he said.

The boss of Edinburgh Airport has warned it could take two years for the business to fully recover from the impact of the coronavirus.

Gordon Dewar says that once the immediate crisis has passed, he expects a dip in passenger numbers to continue until 2022 with job losses inevitable as a result.

Currently, a skeleton staff is maintaining essential services for a handful of daily passenger flights.

Andrew Black
BBC Scotland business news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Care home operators and other social care businesses are under increasing pressure due to the spread of coronavirus.

The UK sector already had a staffing shortage before the current crisis – and now 10% of the 1.6 million-strong workforce can’t currently work, due to issues like having to self-isolate.

Hospitals are having to move more patients into social care more quickly to free up beds for coronavirus patients, and some care homes aren’t able to take new residents.

Care industry veteran Andrew Parfery is chief executive of Edinburgh-based matching and comparison site Care Sourcer, and is involved in a sector-wide taskforce.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: “In a week's time or two weeks' time, we’re going to get the same level of cases as we’re seeing in London, and we aren’t ready to cope with that

“My message is speed – get moving quicker, now. Otherwise it will be more difficult later.

“The social care industry is resilient. It is full of passionate, dedicated people who will rise to the challenge. Everyone else’s job at this point is to support those key workers.”

Image source, Getty Images

Concerns about inconsistencies in how councils are dealing with waste collections amid the coronavirus outbreak have been raised by unions in a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

One refuse worker in Perth and Kinross got in touch with BBC Scotland to say they were worried about the fact they were still expected to travel with two colleagues in a vehicle cab, despite social distancing rules.

Wendy Dunsmore, of the Unite union, told Good Morning Scotland said they were getting similar reports from across Scotland and she called for national guidelines on the issue from the Scottish government.

She said at some councils refuse collectors were travelling in a minibus behind the bin truck, but at others there were three or four in a cab.

"We are calling on employers to do the right thing for essential workers so we can keep service going."

Prof Leitch says there is no evidence that masks should be worn by the general population to protect them from the coronavirus.

"The global evidence -and we've looked properly I promise you - is masks in the general population don't work," he said.

"People don't wear them properly, they're hard, they're difficult, they're uncomfortable, masks are not fun."

He said masks were useful if you have the disease and for healthcare workers dealing with those who are symptomatic.

But because coronavirus is spread by droplets - rather than being airborne - handwashing and social distancing is more effective.

Image source, bbc

Professor Jason Leitch, the national clincial director of the Scottish government, says Covid-19 testing has doubled in the last two weeks and it is going to double again.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning that about 900 tests are being carried out every day in Scotland.

The people who are being tested are the sick, those in hospital with respiratory disease, and key workers who are in isolation with no symptoms.

He said 6% of the healthcare workforce are off work.

"We do want them back and testing will help us with that," he said.

School coursework which has already been submitted by pupils will not be marked due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has said.

The move applies to those sitting National 5 courses.

It was previously announced that coursework for Higher and Advanced Higher courses would not be marked.

Teachers will estimate grades instead.

Image source, Getty Images

The chief constable said the force was trying to adhere to social distancing guidelines wherever possible.

But he said there were times when officers had to help others or rescue people and had to breach the 2m (6ft) rules.

Ahead of the weekend, he said it was "absolutely crucial" that people in Scotland continue to adhere to the lockdown restrictions.

Police will encourage compliance with the rules and only use enforcement as a last resort, he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Livingstone said he was working to get more personal protection equipment for police officers across Scotland.

He told BBC Radio Scotland it was an "absolute priority".

The chief constable went on to say Police Scotland was experiencing an increase in absence - like many other organisations.

He said the force was in talks with special constables and retired police officers.

"Thus far, we are able to meet our demands, we are able to respond to requirements that are upon us, but I'm keeping an open mind."

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said in one instance Police Scotland officers had to deal with a house party - something not allowed under lockdown restrictions.

He said people were asked to leave but when they refused, officers issued a fixed penalty notice.

Image source, Scottish government

Building work has started at the temporary NHS Scotland hospital in the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow.

More than 400 contractors are working with nearly 150 NHS Scotland clinicians and operational staff to set up the new NHS Louisa Jordan.

The emergency facility will be run by the NHS and could have capacity for more than 1,000 patients.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it could be open within two weeks.

Image source, Scottish government

Police Scotland has issued more then 140 fixed penalties to people refusing to adhere to social distancing rules, Chief Constable Iain Livingstone says.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland the penalties were only used as a last resort.

"The level of cooperation and support from the public in terms of social distancing has been vast, overwhelming. Everyone has been stepping up and doing their duty."

Image source, bbc

More controversy over protective equipment for NHS staff is a major issue in many of the papers.

The Herald says health and care workers have been told to wear surgical masks and aprons if they come within two metres of a person suspected of having Covid-19.

The UK health secretary vowing to increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 a day by the end of the month is the lead story in several newspapers.

Meanwhile, The Daily Record carries a picture of a piper leading a musical tribute to NHS staff.

Read our full review here.

Reduced staffing levels are leaving some medical facilities stretched, BMA chairman Lewis Morrison told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland.

He said there needed to a "rapid and comprehensive" roll-out of Covid-19 testing for staff and their families, to allow more staff to get back to work if they test negative.

"It's starting to get a bit mre available but it's not unfair to say there's a lot of frustration out there among the workforce," he said.

"Some people are still finding themselves having to stay away from work for a week because of either the rapidity of testing availablity or the speed at which results come back.

"Ideally, a same day result system where you can just get it done when you need it is what we're aiming for. We're not quite at that point yet."

New guidance for NHS staff advises them to wear fluid-repellant masks when in clinical contact with almost any patient - whether they are are suspected of having coronavirus or not.

BMA Scotland chairman Lewis Morrison told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland it reflected some of the anxieties frontline staff had about meeting patients they might not know have the virus.

He said supplies had been improving this week and at the unit where he works "loads of masks arrived within an hour or two of the announcement being made."

"Knowing that you have to wear a mask for pretty much any patient contact does away with you having to make a judgement as to whether a patient is or isn't infected. You just see them with a mask on and get on with things."

Image source, Reuters

The Prince of Wales is to officially open London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital which will treat intensive care Covid-19 patients - using a video link from his Scottish home of Birkhall.

Clarence House has said Charles, who earlier this week completed self-isolation following his Covid-19 diagnosis, will launch the 4,000-bed temporary facility at the ExCel convention centre in east London later.

Hundreds of pipers across the country have saluted key workers with a mass rendition of Scotland The Brave.

Here’s a roundup of the pipers honouring individuals keeping society moving during the coronavirus crisis.