After paying tribute to emergency workers who are dealing with the crisis, the first minister again urges people to stay at home over the Easter weekend.

She acknowledges that this will be difficult for everyone as Easter is normally a time to see friends and to get out and about, but she warns: "None of that will be possible".

“We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent against this virus and end these measures prematurely," Ms Sturgeon adds. "If we do that, we risk undoing all of the work we have put in so far and we would risk seeing the virus spread out of control, potentially very quickly.”

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 5,275 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland, up 318 on yesterday.

1,832 patients are in hospital with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, a rise of 51, with 207 being treated in intensive care.

A further 48 patients have died, taking the total to 495 in Scotland.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will deliver the daily update on the impact of coronavirus in Scotland shortly.

Image source, AFP

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If so, you're not alone. Thousands of people have been reporting the same type of 'coronavirus dreams' since the pandemic began, according to psychologist and dream expert Ian Wallace.

Mr Wallace, who has written several books on sleep and dreams, told BBC Radio Scotland's Mornings with Stephen Jardine programme that "it is a very interesting phenomena, if a very unfortunate one".

He says the three most common reported dreams are:

1. Being chased
2. Being trapped somehow, or being swept away in a river
3. Being unable to dial a number, or write a phone number down, or use a keypad to gain access to somewhere

Mr Wallace says there are two aspects to the phenomena, one environmental and one psychological.

"The environmental one is that our normal sleeping patterns have been completely disrupted so hardly anyone is waking up with an alarm clock," he explains. "When we don’t wake with an alarm call, we naturally awake from a dream episode in the final stage of any sleep cycle. So because we are waking from a dream, we tend to remember them more.

"The other reason is a psychological one. One of the fundamental reasons we dream is to process unresolved emotions from day to day life. The more intense, unresolved emotions we have because of this pandemic, the more likely we are to create these vivid, intense and scary dreams. Because everyone is currently in a heightened state of anxiety and uncertainty, our dreams are being overloaded with emotions that need to be processed.”

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Scotland's justice secretary has said people are "risking lives" by having house parties during lockdown.

Humza Yousaf said there have been "far too many" gatherings at homes, which have become a "challenge" for police.

Officers have issued around 400 on-the-spot fines and made 25 arrests due to people breaking restrictions, he said.

Read more here.

The death of soul legend Bill Withers has affected legions of fans around the globe.

But some have harnessed one of his greatest hits as a message of comfort and solidarity during the fight against the coronavirus.

Following a huge surge in online streaming of the track, a choir comprised of NHS Lanarkshire staff perform a moving rendition of Lean On Me.

James Cook
BBC Scotland

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A Scottish prisoner who had been suffering from Covid-19 has died in hospital - the first known such death in the country.

John Angus, 66, was a serial sex offender who had been in custody at HMP Edinburgh, commonly known as Saughton Prison.

NHS Lothian would not comment on the case, but it is understood that he was a confirmed Covid-19 case and that several members of staff who dealt with the prisoner have been told to self-isolate as a result.

Around 30 prisoners are currently self-isolating in 10 Scottish prisons with symptoms of coronavirus, according to the Scottish Prison Service.

Angus was convicted at the high court in Inverness in 2010 for drugging and assaulting a woman.

BBC Radio Scotland

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson will take some time to recover from Covid-19 despite having been moved out of intensive care for the virus, BBC Radio Scotland regular Dr Lucy Brennen is predicting.

"I think it will extremely difficult and probably quite long," she tells Mornings with Stephen Jardine. "Anybody admitted to intensive care for any reason, not just Covid, it is a real assault on the body - it's not an easy thing to go through and you're put under a lot of strain.

"One of the common things we're seeing with Covid - even with people that who aren't admitted to intensive care or into hospital - is really extreme fatigue. A very real tiredness that seems to linger for quite some time.

"The people who are admitted to hospital, and certainly intensive care, are at the very end of the spectrum of severity. There is very little data, but I think it's fair to say it will be a very difficult recovery and possibly will take some time.

"So I really do hope he heeds that advice and takes some rest, despite having a big job to do."

Image source, Getty Images

Despite urging people to stay away over the Easter holiday period, businesses in the Highlands are hoping tourists will flock to the area once lockdown measures are eased.

David Whiteford, chairman of the North Highland Initiative, the group behind the North Coast 500, said businesses "hit hard" by the restrictions are hoping British tourists will choose to stay in the country whenever the lockdown ends.

"I think staycations may be the new form of holidays for people in Britain," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme. "Bookings are really strong for this year and people love the Highlands.

"We are working on a plan, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder', but only come when the lockdown is gone'."

Image source, Getty Images

Many refuse collectors and street cleaners say they do not feel safe at work, according to a major union.

GMB Scotland said workers are worried they cannot keep a safe distance from their colleagues and members of the public.

Councils are continuing to collect rubbish and clean streets, though many have changed normal arrangements because of the coronavirus crisis.

Former Labour campaign director Alastair Campbell is in a spin after playing the bagpipes on a single for NHS charities that has gone straight to number five on the iTunes charts after being released at midnight.

Mr Campbell's parents were natives of the isle of Tiree and his elder brother taught Martin Gillespie, who penned "Everyday Heroes" for Celtic rock band Skerryvore, how to play the pipes.

"I saw he had piped in his own street for a local nurse and I thought it would be great for him to be involved and I'm glad that he was," Mr Gillespie told BBC Scotland.

The single, credited to Skerryvore and Friends, features members of Skipinnish, Tide Lines, Peat & Diesel and Mànran, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Trail West, with each musician recording their part in isolation and sent to Skerryvore's Scott Wood to mix in his studio.

It was released on band websites and You Tube shortly after last night's clap for the NHS and then made available for downloading and streaming from midnight. All proceeds will go to the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.

Anne Soy
BBC News, Nairobi

Image source, AFP

The World Bank is projecting that sub-Saharan Africa will go into recession for the first time in a quarter a century as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupts economies.

The global financial institution says the region’s economy could contract by -2.1% to as much as -5.1% this year.

The outbreak has spread to 52 countries on the continent that have cumulatively reported 10,250 confirmed cases and 492 deaths.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are calling for a "debt standstill" from creditors to free up money to go into saving lives and protecting livelihoods.

Africa was among the last to be hit by Covid-19, and the response from most countries was swift and hard - border closures, lockdowns and the quarantine of travellers.

The immediate result was a major disruption to trade. The World Bank says reduced access to agricultural inputs, disruption of supply chains and loss of livelihoods could lead to a food shortage.

Africa’s biggest economies are worst hit - Nigeria and Angola by the collapse of oil prices, and South Africa by a drop in mining income.

Agricultural exports from Ethiopia and Kenya have all but shut down. And foreign financial inflows from tourism, remittances and direct investment have stopped.

Existing crises such as the desert locust invasion in Eastern and Central Africa, conflicts and drought in Southern Africa compound the problem.

The World Bank is proposing a freeze on debt payments, which would free up over $35bn (£28bn) used annually to service loans, as well as save $44bn in waivers on interest payments.

It is also urging the continent to consider cash transfers, food distribution, and fee waivers on basic services to support the poorest.

Image source, Getty Images

Many Scottish companies are helping provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to help increase capacity for workers during the coronavirus crisis.

Andrew Fleming-Brown's company SWG3 started producing 400 face visors a day and have swiftly up-scaled to the extent they are sending 2,000 a day to hospitals, surgeries and pharmacies around Scotland.

They have launched a Go Fund Me, external page to try to raise £50,000 to increase that to 25,000 visors, while Masks for Scotland, external have launched their own crowdfunder to help NHS workers get the protection they need.

Vumani Mkhize
BBC News

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South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the current head of the African Union (AU), has defended the World Health Organization (WHO) following President Trump’s criticism of the WHO's handling of coronavirus.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed the AU’s support for the WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and called for international co-operation in fighting the virus.

"As the world grapples with the challenge of the coronavirus there is a need for solidarity, unity of purpose and better coordination to ensure that we are able to overcome this common enemy,” the statement read.

Mr Ramaphosa went on to say that the AU extends its unwavering support to the WHO, and added that "we should avoid the temptation to apportion blame".

President Ramaphosa's support of Dr Tedros and the WHO comes after US President Donald Trump's criticism of the organisation.

In a briefing on Tuesday, Mr Trump - who's been accused of acting too slowly against the virus - accused the WHO of providing bad advice when the outbreak started.

He also said the organisation was "China-centric" and threatened to cut down funding.

The WHO's $2.5bn (£2bn) annual budget comes from member nations, as well as non-profit organisations, foundations, companies and universities.

Contrary to Mr Trump's comments, the US does not provide the majority of the funding for the WHO, but it is the largest single contributor.

Read:

• The Ethiopian at the heart of the coronavirus fight

South Korea's children have gone back to school - but coronavirus means class looks very different.

But businesses along the popular route warn they may not survive the coronavirus lockdown.

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The Royal College of Midwives is reminding expectant families that maternity services are open and women must continue to attend appointments.

They have said despite the pandemic women will continue to receive the care and support that they need.

They are urging women and their families to do their bit to keep themselves healthy and protect midwives and maternity support workers.

Image source, PA Media

Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s Justice Secretary, says police are still having to disperse "far too many" house parties - mostly in urban areas - even if the "vast majority" of Scots are observing measures to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Latest figures show police have issued around 400 on-the-spot fines to people flouting restrictions, and made 25 arrests, Mr Yousaf said.

“Regardless of how small your house party might be, you are genuinely risking lives," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme. "When we say stay at home, for the health of the nation, it is absolutely necessary."