First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wished Boris Johnson to "get well soon" at today's briefing on the coronavirus outbreak. The prime minister is described as being in a stable condition, having spent the night in intensive care.

The death toll in Scotland now stands at 296, an increase of 74 on yesterday's numbers.

Image source, PA Media

In addition:

• 4,229 people have now tested positive, up by 268 from yesterday.
• 1,751 patients are in hospital with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, including 199 in intensive care. There are currently 321 unoccupied beds in ICU.
• £5.3m has been announced for community pharmacies, which are to remain over over the Easter weekend.
• The chief nursing officer said NHS Louisa Jordan is "truly beginning to take shape".
• Health boards are being reminded to prioritise care workers as well as NHS staff for testing, following the death of a care worker at the weekend.

The first minister reiterates the number of deaths currently includes those from laboratory confirmed cases of Covid-19.

From tomorrow the numbers will include not just confirmed but presumed deaths, where doctors have referenced the virus on death certificates.

In addition, a new model will provide the government with a greater understanding on the spread of the virus, when we can expect to hit the peak and therefore when we can get closer to normality she adds.

Asked what would happen if she developed symptoms of Covid-19, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies that she is taking as many precautions as she reasonably can.

She explains that she would continue to work for as long as was "medically appropriate".

"Of course, we have continuity arrangements in place," she adds. "I won't go into full detail.

"In the first instance, if I was ill, then it would be the deputy first minister [John Swinney] who stepped in."

Asked about capacity in intensive care, the first minister insists there is "plenty spare capacity" at the present time.

The health secretary elaborates there are 585 ICU beds, all of which either have ventilators or ventilator capacity.

There are currently 264 patients in ICU, for both Covid-19 and other conditions, leaving 321 unoccupied beds,Ms Freeman says.

Ms Sturgeon adds the aim is to have 3,000 beds dedicated to the coronavirus response. With 1,751 patients in hospital now, there is still plenty of capacity in both ICU and general wards, and the beds from NHS Louisa Jordan will be in addition to this.

BBC Scotland political correspondent Glenn Campbell asks, with the prime minister in intensive care, is it clear who is running the UK government, especially on national security issues.

Ms Sturgoen highlights Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has taken over where necessary and she trusts the appropriate arrangements are in place.

She says it is not appropriate for her to say more about Mr Johnson's condition or how this will affect arrangements going forward, as Downing Street will advise.

"Our main thoughts and wishes are for the health of the prime minister," she says.

On the question of PPE, the first minister says: "I recognise the importance of this issue for everybody who is working in a frontline capacity."

There are three different issues, she explains.

• Supply - "We have healthy supplies but they are under pressure, the global supply chain is under pressure".
• Distribution - "We have taken steps to streamline and speed up the process. There is an email hotline to raise concerns."
• Training - "New guidelines were issued last week by Health Protection Scotland and it is important to disseminate that properly through the workforce."

Image source, Getty Images

The chief nursing officer tackles the question on PPE, saying access is vital though the government is aware there are some areas where distribution has not yet reached all levels.

We are putting in place measures to ensure it does, Fiona McQueen adds.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says there is a direct route for ordering and distributing PPE now, but colleagues in local government must advise on what they need.

She is to speak to Cosla, the umbrella body for councils, later today.

BBC Scotland's health correspondent Lisa Summers asks for information on the testing of care workers.

She also wonders whether the army will be deployed to deliver PPE supplies to the sector.

The first minister says logistics support is already being provided by the army.

She says testing of carers is under way and an update will be made “in due course” on the precise numbers.

Prioritisation in testing already includes care workers but "we will remind health boards of this", she adds.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman praises community pharmacy teams at this time, saying they are a central part of healthcare services.

An initial package of £5.3m to meet some of the costs of responding to Covid-19 has been agreed, she explains.

This will cover the costs of equipment, adaptations being made, staffing cover and the extension of the minor ailments services.

She confirms, where possible, pharmacies will stay open over the Easter weekend.

Chief nursing officer Fiona McQueen also has praise for student nurses, who are stepping into the front line during this crisis.

She hails an "amazing response" from third and fourth-year students and explains that more than 2,000 have been deployed this week, with more to come.

"It is a real thrill for me to see their compassion and professionalism," says Ms McQueen.

Chief nursing officer Fiona McQueen says the temporary NHS Louisa Jordan hospital at the SEC in Glasgow is "truly beginning to take shape".

"We hope this is a hospital we never need but it will provide a response," she says, before praising the staff who have been on site "24 hours a day since last Tuesday".

Ms McQueen says more than 8,000 pieces of medical equipment have been installed at the facility which has 300 beds and a capacity that can rise to 1,000.

"Every death is much more than a statistic. Every death is a human being," says Ms Sturgeon, sending condolences to affected families.

She confirms an extra £5.3m will be provided for community pharmacies.

Appropriate infection control procedures are in place in care homes across Scotland, Ms Sturgeon states.

She says the government is looking at increasing the testing of care workers as capacity is increased.

The first minister confirms work is going on to resolve any issues relating to PPE and over six million items have been distributed. Ms Sturgeon says staying at home will help our health and care services cope with extra pressures.

The first minister confirms a further 74 people have died with coronavirus in Scotland, taking the total to 296.

She explains this relatively large number of deaths is due to National Records for Scotland not yet operating a seven-day service, so weekend deaths were an underestimate.

In addition:

• 4,229 people have now tested positive, up by 268 from yesterday
• 1,751 patients are in hospital with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, including 199 in intensive care.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon begins her briefing by sending "every good wish" to Boris Johnson, who is currently in intensive care with coronavirus, and his family.

"We are all willing you on, Boris. Get well soon," she says.

Ms Sturgeon says people should be staying at home, self-isolate if they or someone in their household have symptoms, and not be gathering in groups outside of household members.

These measures are vital to save lives, she adds.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will deliver today's coronavirus update at 12:30pm.

You can watch it here or listen to it on BBC Radio Scotland.

Calum Steele, the Scottish Police Federation’s general secretary, said the decision to set up a police safety panel was taken because government health advice "does not take account of the realities of police work".

He added: "We need sector specific advice which recognises and reflects the often unpredictable and up close and personal nature of policing, and this panel will help us secure that.

"The panel comprises some of the finest medical and scientific minds in Scotland and as it delivers specific advice to us, we will liaise directly with Police Scotland. We cannot continue with a mindset that says if a police officer doesn’t have symptoms then he or she doesn’t have the virus. This is wrong."

The panel met for the first time via video conference yesterday and the professional expert members are Professor Sir Harry Burns, Professor George Crooks OBE and Professor Hugh Pennington CBE, while the SPF represents 98% of all police officers in Scotland.

Image source, SNS

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) has set up a panel to provide advice on the risks and safeguards for staff.

Immediate considerations include:

• The suitability of generic public health guidance for the dynamic activity of policing
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in various operational settings
• Mitigation of risks for police officers and the public
• The cleaning and decontamination of work place and equipment

Image source, Getty Images

The number of people attending A&E in Scotland has plummeted since the coronavirus lockdown started.

NHS Scotland figures show that in the week ending 22 March, a total of 16,425 patients went to hospital emergency departments for help.

By the end of the following week, six days after the lockdown started, the number was 11,020.

Before the pandemic began, weekly A&E attendance rates had been at about the 25,000 mark so far this year.