Summary

  • Latest figures reveal 46 more confirmed deaths in Scotland, taking total to 218

  • 3,345 people have tested positive in Scotland, up 344 from Friday

  • 13 residents die in care home at centre of suspected coronavirus outbreak

  • North Sea offshore worker dies after showing coronavirus symptoms

  1. Goodbyepublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    Thanks for following the latest developments on the Scotland Live page today.

    Here are the main stories:

    • Another 46 people have died from the virus in hospitals in Scotland, bringing the total to 218.
    • Thirteen residents in a Glasgow care home have died in a week following a suspected outbreak of the virus.
    • Glasgow Airport's long stay car park is to be transformed into a drive-through mobile testing facility for frontline NHS staff.
    • Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is expected to return to work on Sunday following a week in isolation with coronavirus symptoms.
    • The Scottish government has published new guidance for businesses on protecting their employees.
    • The SNP has accepted an invitation from Boris Johnson to discuss the UK's response to the Covid-19 crisis.

    Join us again for more updates on Sunday morning.

  2. Glasgow's SSE Hydro to light up tonight in rainbow colourspublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    The SSE Hyrdo lit up in rainbow coloursImage source, SSE Hyrdo

    If you're anywhere near the banks of the Clyde tonight and see bright lights in the sky, don't worry, the aliens have not landed.

    Glasgow's SSE Hydro is following the example of thousands around the country who have displayed drawings and paintings of rainbows to show their support for key workers and boost morale during the coronavirus crisis.

    "We, like everyone, have been blown away by the fantastic ‘Rainbow Trail’ drawings appearing from children up and down the country," said a message from the venue.

    "We’re displaying our own sign of hope and raising spirits by turning The SSE Hydro all the colours of the rainbow tonight."

  3. Does disinfecting public areas make a difference?published at 18:15 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    A cleaning worker sprays outside surfaces in Largs, Ayrshire on SaturdayImage source, Getty Images

    Professor Jason Leitch, the Scottish Government's national clinical director, says that disinfecting outdoor public areas will make little difference in the fight to stem the spread of coronavirus.

    “There is not a lot of evidence that it does much other than perhaps create a bit of a spectacle," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme.

    "This virus lives on surfaces; it doesn’t survive out in the wild too much so the big disinfections you might see don’t really do much for this particular fight.

    “People staying at home, washing their hands and breaking the cycle is the best way.”

  4. Postpublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

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  5. New guidance on social-distancing for employerspublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    social-distancing at workImage source, Getty Images

    The Scottish government has published new guidance for businesses, external on protecting their employees in the coronavirus crisis.

    It says those providing essential services must follow social distancing requirements.

    And it asks those who are not required to close by law to consider whether what they do is essential to effort to fight the virus, or to benefit the wellbeing of society.

    Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said updated guidance expected to be published by the UK government does not apply in Scotland.

    "Workplaces that do not follow the chief medical officer's clear and consistent precautionary advice may be putting their employees, the wider public and our NHS at risk," she said.

  6. Everyone at Aberdeen 'playing their part'published at 17:46 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

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  7. Aberdeen handed cash boost as players and staff defer wagespublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    Aberdeen chairman Dave CormackImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Dons chairman Dave Cormack's investment group will invest a further £2m in the club

    Aberdeen have announced £2m of extra investment and confirmed manager Derek McInnes, his staff, and players have agreed to defer between 10 and 30% of their wages for four months.

    Higher-paid, non-football staff are also delaying part of their pay, with all deferrals saving a total of £1.1m.

    These measures will "help close the looming £5m gap in cashflow".

    Chairman Dave Cormack, part of the investment group, says deferrals only apply to half of the club's employees.

    Read more here.

  8. Care home deaths not included among latest figurespublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    Burlington Court care homeImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Burlington Court care home in Glasgow has witnessed 13 deaths in a week

    The deaths of 13 care home residents in Glasgow, which have been linked to a suspected coronavirus outbreak, are not included in official statistics published by the Scottish government.

    Only those who die in hospital are recorded in the government-published figures. The Burlington Court residents were not tested for Covid-19 because they were not admitted to hospital.

    NHS England director Stephen Powis was asked about the issue at the daily Downing Street briefing.

    "It is with great sadness that deaths do unfortunately happen in the community," Mr Powis said. "The figures we report from the NHS are the number of deaths in hospital.

    "The Office for National Statistics is able to report deaths that occur in the community through the death registration process, and in the last week they have started to do that.

    "So I would expect that deaths will be higher than the number that are reported from hospitals."

  9. FM: Tribute after 13 care home deaths linked to viruspublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

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  10. Highest daily total of virus deaths in the UKpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

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  11. SNP welcome PM's invitation to discuss coronavirus crisispublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    Ian BlackfordImage source, PA Media

    The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford has confirmed the party has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the UK government's response to the coronavirus crisis.

    "I welcome the opportunity to meet with Boris Johnson and set out the SNP's priorities to ensure people get the support they need in this unprecedented emergency," Mr Blackford said.

    "Alongside the health response, I will be pressing for action to fix the serious gaps in financial support. The SNP has consistently called for a comprehensive package including a guaranteed minimum income, strengthened welfare protections, urgent access to cash for businesses, and increased NHS and social care funding. I look forward to making the case for these measures."

    He added: "The SNP will continue to work constructively across parties to ensure the right response to tackle coronavirus and secure the support that people need."

  12. Ventilators to be produced in Kelso plantpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    Michael Gove

    Work to make more ventilators will begin in the Scottish Borders next week, Michael Gove has told a Downing Street briefing.

    He said production of the device would take place at the Diamedica and Plexus facility in Kelso.

    "The more ventilators - invasive and non-invasive - available to the NHS, the more patients can get the care they need when they need it."

    Follow Mr Gove's statement here.

  13. Victoria Beckham 'humbled' on FaceTime call with NHS Highland staffpublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    Victoria Beckham brought smiles to a ward in NHS Highland as she FaceTimed a team of doctors and nurses - some of whom have had to move hundreds of miles away from home.

    She told staff: "Thank you so much for all your hard work. The whole country feels so humbled by everything that you're doing."

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  14. Glasgow Airport to host coronavirus testing facility for NHS staffpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    A medical worker tests a driver through the window of a carImage source, Reuters

    Glasgow Airport’s long-stay car park is being transformed into a drive-through mobile testing facility to support the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

    It is part of a series of measures being introduced to increase testing and response to the spread of Covid-19.

    The facility is being introduced to test frontline NHS staff only at this stage and by appointment only. The centre, funded by the UK government, is not open to the public.

    “Glasgow Airport has the space and infrastructure capable of accommodating a large-scale testing area and we are only too happy to support in this way," said the airport's managing director Mark Johnston.

    Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland added: “This is part of the UK government’s plan to vastly expand our testing capacity as we continue to work around the clock and across the country to protect the vulnerable, support the NHS, and save lives.”

  15. More quiet roads across Scotlandpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

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  16. Scottish government pledges support to care sector after home deathspublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    A statement said their thoughts were with the families and friends of 13 residents at a Glasgow care home who have died in one week following a suspected outbreak of coronavirus.

    It added that the social care sector was working in "very challenging circumstances" and said everything possible would be done to provide support.

    “The Care Inspectorate continues to provide advice and support to the care home at this time," it said.

    "We are in close contact with the Care Inspectorate to understand how Covid-19 is affecting the delivery of care across Scotland.”

  17. Should I be out for a walk or run in the sunshine?published at 15:17 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    A runner runs along the seafrontImage source, PA Media

    Members of the public should stay at home and not be tempted out by good weather expected over the weekend, the government says.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people not to "start to break the regulations" introduced to beat coronavirus.

    T, externalhose measures state that everybody must stay at home where possible and only leave if they have a "reasonable excuse". This includes:

    • Exercise - alone, or with members of your household
    • Shopping for basic necessities
    • Any medical need, or providing care for a vulnerable person
    • Travel to or from work, but only when you cannot work from home

    Read more on what you should and should not be doing here.

  18. A special call to Caithness General Hospitalpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

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  19. The coronavirus situation in Scotland in chartspublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    There are currently 3,345 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Scotland, although the actual number of cases is possibly more than 200,000.

    Read more about the latest situation here.

    Graph

    The number of deaths reported has now reached 218.

    Graph
  20. Latest totals of positive cases in all Scotland's health board areaspublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 4 April 2020

    • Ayrshire and Arran 254
    • Borders 110
    • Dumfries and Galloway 127
    • Fife 173
    • Forth Valley 208
    • Grampian 177
    • Greater Glasgow and Clyde 851
    • Highland 85
    • Lanarkshire 427
    • Lothian 476
    • Orkney 4
    • Shetland 40
    • Tayside 410
    • Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) 3