Image source, Google

Speculation of an Easter weekend review of lockdown restrictions has led to talk that some measures could be lifted next week. That is not the case, Ms Sturgeon states.

"I am acutely aware of how tough these measures are for people who don't have gardens and that's particularly true for those with children," says the first minister.

"That's why it's really important, as we give tough advice to stay at home, we do stress the value of getting outside for fresh air and exercise once a day.

"But we need to say that while they are outside for essential purposes, the advice about not gathering in groups outside your household remains really important.

"The more people comply, the quicker we will get to a point where we can lift this. Please stick with it, no matter how hard it feels."

"I hope we don't have to take more restrictive measures," she says.

"Outside the shielded group, there is a bigger group of vulnerable people who are not necessarily in that category but still require assistance," says the first minister.

"They may be older people or have other health conditions that are not in the shielded group.

"Over the last few days we have been doing work to put in place a service for them, if they don't have friends or family that can help.

"We don't want anybody to be falling through the net."

"The data is so important," adds Dr Gregor Smith. "It helps us to understand better how Covid-19 is impacting across Scotland and this allows us to plan in greater detail.

"We already participate in clinical networks across the UK and Europe to share useful information, and those links have never been stronger."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Scotland’s health correspondent Lisa Summers says medical professionals believe the guidance from Health Protection Scotland on personal protective equipment is a basic level of protection and is not adequate.

What can the government to do increase the quality of PPE, she asks.

Ms Sturgeon says there is an “expert basis” to the PPE guidance and it has not been diluted.

There are global constraints on supplies but we are working hard to ensure PPE is of the right quality and correct guidance is available, she adds.

“We will strive day by day to address any concerns that are there so that we can resolve those.”

The health secretary adds the PPE being used meets WHO guidelines, but the interim chief medical officer is seeking to meet with those who have raised concerns to further understand any issues and provide reassurance.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman returns to the issue of PPE, saying the government is "absolutely determined" to ensure health and social care staff have the equipment they need.

She and the deputy first minister will discuss the matter with trade unions and Cosla later today, she confirms.

We reached a number of important resolutions on distribution of PPE in social care following a meeting with Scottish Care yesterday, she adds.

Ms Freeman says: "As issues arise, I want to be able to know about them so I can act on them. We have sufficient supplies of them."

She urges anyone with concerns to email the PPE helpline on covid-19-health-PPE@gov.scot

Interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith stresses that it is really important that those displaying urgent symptoms like chest pains or unusual breathing seek help immediately.

"I want to make it clear that your NHS remains open to you," he says.

The first minister announced a £5m fund for colleges and universities to pass on to any students who are struggling financially.

She passes on her best wishes to Daphne Shah, a 98-year-old who has recovered from coronavirus.

She says her recovery is an "inspiring and very welcome" good news story, reminding us that even in dark times there is always hope.

Ms Sturgeon says the data published will allow the government and NHS to plan better in terms of hospital bed capacity. It will also help shape advice on how and when lockdown measures can begin to be lifted, she adds.

Turning to the letter written by concerned medics about PPE, the first minister says the interim chief medical officer will reach out to them to discuss it further. The health secretary is also to speak to the BMA about it.

I want to stress again that if issues and concerns are raised with us. We will seek to address them "fully and quickly" she says.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

According to National Records of Scotland figures published earlier, 354 deaths were registered in Scotland as of Sunday 5 April.

The first minister explains this figure is smaller than the 366 she mentioned earlier due to the time lag.

These figures record deaths according to the date of registration of the death rather than the date of death, she adds.

Some registrations last week will have ordinarily taken place the week before which is why the number seems to be a sharper rise. Between 30 March to 5 April, 282 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 4,565 people have tested positive for coronavirus, up 336 from yesterday.

A total of 1,771 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, with 210 in intensive care, she adds.

Further information will be published on these figures for each health board.

Ms Sturgeon says 70 additional deaths were registered in the last day, taking the total to 366.

You can watch the first minister's statement here, which follows the National Records of Scotland confirming an increase in the numbers of people who have died with confirmed, suspected or presumed Covid-19.

Alternatively you can listen on BBC Radio Scotland.

The way Scotland records its coronavirus-related deaths is changing. The National Records of Scotland has issued its first bulletin taking into account a wider view of fatalities.

It shows that between 30 March to 5 April, deaths linked to Covid-19 stood at 282.

Since the outbreak in Scotland began there have been 366 deaths associated with the novel coronavirus. That figure is a combination of the daily Health Protection Scotland statistics and the newly sourced National Records of Scotland data.

The stats also revealed;

• More than 60% of deaths were people aged 75 or over in the week starting 30 March
• The greater Glasgow area recorded the highest number of Covid-19 deaths
• To date there have been no registered coronavirus deaths in Orkney and the Western isles

Image source, Getty Images

Highland council says land managers who put up "inappropriate" signs during the coronavirus crisis, claiming paths and other routes are closed, must remove them.

The local authority's access officers say there is no change in the legal rights of people to paths and other areas in towns and the countryside.

They are reminding people to continue to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the current government advice on exercising outdoors.

David MacNicol
BBC Scotland

Image source, Sikh Food Bank

The Sikh Food Bank operates in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

It shows how close-knit communities are supporting one another during the coronavirus crisis.

Co-founder Charandeep Singh says Gurdwaras, the places where Sikhs come together for congregational worship, have a long history of providing food and support to anyone who needs it - regardless of cultural or religious identity.

He says: "From a South Asian perspective, we have added challenges. We have a high elderly population, some of them stay on their own.

"They also have specific dietary requirements and dietary needs.”

The Sikh Food Bank relies on a network of volunteers to prepare food parcels and meals which cater to cultural tastes. They receive donations from the Sikh congregation but also financial aid from local businesses.

BBC Radio Scotland

Does buying an Easter egg count as "essential shopping"?

Jane Bradley, consumer affairs correspondent at The Scotsman, tells BBC Radio Scotland: "Don't dawdle in the shop, plan in advance - grabbing a couple of treats is not going to do any harm.

"A basic necessity from one person to another will be seen completely differently.

"Try to be sensible with online shopping. You could argue that placing orders is putting couriers and warehouse staff at risk."

Additional weekly numbers of coronavirus deaths will be published from this afternoon.

The new figures will take into account deaths where a patient tested positive, but also instances where a doctor judged the virus was a factor.

This means the new statistics are likely to show an increase on the number of deaths recorded daily, which stands at 296.

Image source, Science Photo Library

Image source, SNS

Glasgow Warriors coach, and occasional player, Petrus du Plessis is joining the fight against Covid-19.

The 38-year-old South African is a qualified physiotherapist and says he is registering to join the NHS.

BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Paul Campbell

"Lots of virologists I’m talking to are not optimistic about the timescales for vaccines," adds Naked Scientist Dr Chris Smith on BBC Radio Scotland.

But the Cambridge University lecturer believes we will see the current lockdown "bearing fruit" by next week.

"I think we’ll see quite a big dent and that will bring the level of circulating virus right down and bring the cases right down," he explains. "That buys us valuable time."

He adds: "We have to come down the other side of the hill from the peak and as we do so we can begin a staged unlocking.

"We can find out where cases are – drop in and isolate them, test all the contacts and return to a sort of containment phase."

Image source, Plexus

Scottish companies are stepping up to provide essential equipment for frontline health workers fighting against coronavirus.

Plastics manufacturer ICL Tech has ramped up production of visors for NHS staff tackling the pandemic.

Drug discovery business Censo Biotechnologies will soon be able to complete 15,000 Covid-19 diagnostic tests a month.

And electronic firm Plexus has started producing ventilators for the NHS.

Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

This is not about access to protective equipment.

These medics understand the enormous efforts going on to deliver supplies but they say the World Health Organization advice is about the basic standard of PPE for every country in the world.

They agree the highest level of protective gear should be reserved for those treating the most acutely unwell patients but they are extremely worried the equipment they are receiving will not offer adequate protection to them and their patients.

They argue that a country like Scotland should be capable of rapidly scaling up production of more sophisticated masks and gowns.

It would provide reassurance to them, and to those whom they are caring for.