Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon announces 58 more coronavirus deaths in Scottish hospitals

  • The first minister says community transmission of Covid-19 seems to be slowing

  • The number of patients in intensive care drops slightly to 189

  • Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf "actively looking at" releasing some prisoners early

  • The Scottish Police Federation claims new PPE for officers will not provide any "meaningful protection".

  1. Premier League clubs discuss 40-day finishpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Finishing the season in a 40-day window was one of the scenarios discussed at a Premier League meeting on Friday.

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  2. Oscar: 'Wash nasty germs away'published at 19:00 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

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  3. A summary of today's developmentspublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    As we end our live coverage for today, here is a summary of the latest coronavirus developments in Scotland, as we approach the end of the fourth week of lockdown.

    • Nine residents have died at a nursing home in West Dunbartonshire from suspected coronavirus, with a further 16 residents displaying symptoms.
    • Nicola Sturgeon believes the lockdown restrictions are working, but says easing up in any way could risk an immediate resurgence of the virus.
    • There have been 58 more deaths in Scottish hospitals over the last 24 hours, bringing the total - under that measurement - to 837.
    • The first minister says police have a "relevant supply of PPE" despite Scottish Police Federation claims that new PPE will not provide any "meaningful protection".
    • Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf is "actively looking at" releasing some prisoners early to help combat the spread of coronavirus.
    • A 90-year-old woman, Margaret Payne, aims to climb the equivalent height of Highland mountain Suilven - 731m - with 282 trips upstairs at her Sutherland home to raise funds for the NHS.

    We'll be back with more live coverage tomorrow morning, but we'll leave you with a message from four-year-old Oscar...

  4. Leitch allays fears over treatment prioritiespublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Scotland is not using the Covid-19 Decision Support Tool - designed to help doctors decide who should be the priority for care during peak times of Covid-19 treatment - national clinical director Jason Leitch has stressed.

    A listener to BBC Radio Scotland suggested that older people and those with chronic conditions are concerned about whether they will qualify or be excluded from care in hospital.

    "There is no blanket decision on whether someone should get treatment or not based on disability, illness, age, ethnicity, gender, or anything like that," Mr Leitch insisted.

    However, he admitted that difficult choices often had to be made when an illness became serious and these would be taken after discussions between clinicians and families.

    A man wearing a face mask past a poster saying 'I'm Feeling Anxious and Vulnerable'Image source, Getty Images
  5. Repatriated to the UK? Here is how to get homepublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

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  6. Government 'must back lots of horses' in vaccine searchpublished at 18:31 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Sir Patrick Vallance
    Image caption,

    Sir Patrick Vallance has paid tribute to the efforts of researchers

    Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser to the UK Government, has urged caution about the prospect of a successful vaccine for Covid-19.

    Scientists in Oxford say they are so confident in their trial they will manufacture one million doses while it is under way and hope to be ready for September.

    Theirs is one of over 100 vaccine projects, but Sir Patrick says the reality is that "each single project does not have a high probability of success".

    "Everyone goes out with great enthusiasm... but it is never the case we know we have a vaccine that works," he added.

    The vaccine may not come from the UK, however, and the government must "back lots of horses".

  7. Irvine Welsh helps out Edinburgh community grouppublished at 18:26 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Author Irvine Welsh is helping out with a community group distributing food in Edinburgh.

    Helping Hands is delivering food parcels and meals to hundreds of households in some of the poorest parts of the capital.

    The Trainspotting author was pictured with volunteers preparing the food to be distributed.

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  8. Fear of increased sepsis during Covid-19 pandemicpublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    BBC Radio Scotland
    Drivetime

    Deaths from deadly disease sepsis could rise in the UK because people are wary of seeking treatment for conditions other than Covid-19, Sepsis Trust, external founder Dr Ron Daniels warns.

    Speaking to Drivetime, Dr Daniels pointed out that the condition, caused by the body's rapid response to an infection, affects 15m people around the world, with 11m deaths as a result.

    "This is something that's massively prevalent and we simply can't afford to ignore it during the Covid-19 pandemic," he says.

    "We have seen a 50% reduction in people presenting to hospital. Emergency departments and GP surgeries have noticed a huge drop-off in people with conditions other than Covid-19, many of which are deadly."

    Dr Daniels particularly urged parents to consider the behaviour of their children and says "if something really doesn't feel right, seek help".

    How to spot sepsis in childrenImage source, Sepsis Trust
  9. Longest time without a mountain rescue in 19 yearspublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Scottish mountain rescue teams are having their quietest period since restrictions around the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.

    People have been urged not to visit Scotland's hills and mountains since the beginning of the lockdown last month.

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  10. 'Test, track and isolate' vital to aid easing of lockdown measurespublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Professor Jason Leitch

    National clinical director Jason Leitch has defended the proportion of coronavirus tests being carried out in Scotland compared to some other European countries.

    "The differences between the countries is over-simplified," he told BBc Scotland's Drivetime programme.

    "The test is only useful to us in people with symptoms and the number of people with symptoms, because of the behaviour of the people, is hopefully falling.

    "So that means that testing is being used very wisely for those with symptoms, to survey the country and to get people back to work."

    Mr Leitch suggested that testing will become important - to test, track and isolate - once the government decides to start relaxing the lockdown.

    "As that testing becomes better and more elaborate, it will help us on the way out," he adds.

  11. Care home boss attacks Scottish government over testingpublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Rainbow pictures in the windows of a Glasgow care homeImage source, Getty Images

    The boss of a care home where the deaths of nine residents have been attributed to Covid-19 has criticised the Scottish Government over a lack of testing.

    The Newark Care facility in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, said no staff or residents had been tested, despite repeated requests to the government.

    Chief executive Jack Ryan has now written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlining his concerns, after she announced on Wednesday all symptomatic staff and residents in care homes would be tested.

    He wrote: "You stated that it is standard practice for testing of early cases to be carried out within care homes. You need to be aware that despite having now lost nine residents whose deaths have been reported as coronavirus-related, there has been no testing at any point."

    Meanwhile, nine residents have died at a care home in West Dunbartonshire from suspected coronavirus, with a further 16 showing symptoms.

    Earlier this week, National Records of Scotland figures indicated nearly a quarter of all deaths linked to Covid-19 in Scotland were in care homes.

  12. What can children do when online access is not an option?published at 17:51 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Aileen Clarke

    Lucas gets busy with a rainbow drawing for his window
    Image caption,

    Lucas gets busy with a rainbow drawing for his window

    Social media and video calls, live-streamed exercise classes and online teaching have become lockdown staples for children.

    But what about families where for various reasons, relying on the internet is not an option?

    Shumela Ahmed, who runs a training and education company called the Resilience Learning Partnership, started a scheme in the Clackmannanshire area which is delivering 250 boxes to families, packed with craft materials to keep children busy.

    One mother happy to receive one was Suzie Weir, whose 12-year-old son Zac has learning difficulties, while his younger brother Lucas has such complex health issues that the whole family is having to isolate for 12 weeks.

    Zac and Lucas
    Image caption,

    Zac and Lucas were delighted to receive their craft box

  13. Care home deaths in Linwood 'may be linked to Covid-19'published at 17:34 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Paul O'Hare
    BBC Scotland News

    Elderly genericImage source, PA Media

    A care home in Linwood, Paisley, has said the deaths of two residents may be linked to Covid-19.

    Mosswood Care Home also confirmed five residents are displaying symptoms of the virus but three of them are "well on the way to recovery".

    Operators Pacific Care said one of the 140 members of staff at the home has tested positive for coronavirus but they have now recovered and returned to work. A further three are self-isolating.

    A spokeswoman added: "As with many care home operators in Scotland, we are concerned with the lack of availability of testing equipment for residents and staff.

    "Our primary focus is on the well-being and safety of our residents & staff in these unprecedented circumstances."

    Read more here.

  14. Prince William hails veteran's £19m NHS fundraiserpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Capt Tom Moore called the Duke of Cambridge his "super prince" after his fundraising was praised.

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  15. Government 'betting big' on finding virus vaccinepublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Business Secretary Alok Sharma announces a new government-led “vaccine taskforce” which it hopes will accelerate the development and manufacture of vaccines in the UK to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

    The taskforce, led by chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan van Tam, will liaise with 21 projects already "greenlighted" with £14m worth of funding, adding to an existing pledge of £250m from the government to develop a vaccine.

    "Be under no illusions," Mr Sharma said. "A vaccine is a colossal undertaking and a complex process which will take many months.

    "There are no guarantees, but we are backing scientists [and] betting big."

    A medical worker delivers an injection to a babyImage source, Getty Images
  16. Sharma: Worst thing for UK would be second peakpublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Business Secretary Alok Sharma

    Business Secretary Alok Sharma is delivering the UK government's daily briefing today. He says the government's "step by step action plan" has followed scientific and medical advice, and been "deliberate" in its moves.

    He confirms the number of deaths across the UK has risen to 14,576 - with 847 new deaths reported in hospitals in the last 24 hours.

    The government needs to see "a sustained and consistent" fall in infections and deaths before lockdown restrictions can be changed, he says.

    "The worst thing we could do now is ease up too soon and allow a second peak of the virus to hit the NHS and the British people," he adds.

  17. UK government extends furlough scheme until end of Junepublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

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  18. Prisoners to be allowed limited access to mobile phonespublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Mobile phoneImage source, Getty Images

    A limited use of mobile phones for prisoners is to be allowed.

    The Scottish government and Scottish Prison Service are backing the move to maintain contact between people in custody and their families during the Covid-19 outbreak.

    There would be security restrictions on the phones, as with the current prison landline system. Outgoing calls could be monitored and would only be possible to numbers already included in existing prisoner call lists. The phones would not be text or internet-enabled or be able to receive incoming calls.

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “It is important that prisoners and their families are supported while the current prison visit restrictions are in place."

  19. Hair brand and shop team up to offer free moisturiser to NHS staffpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Crazy Color moisturiser

    A Scottish hair care company has produced 30,000 moisturisers for NHS staff fighting Covid19.

    Professional Beauty Systems stopped production of its “Crazy Color” brand as it was a non-essential item, but decided to resume after hearing health workers were suffering from dry skin as a result of constant hand washing and wearing PPE.

    Lisa Keir from the firm told Radio Scotland’s Drivetime with Fiona Stalker programme: “We wanted to help by making a hand and body moisturiser that revives tired and dehydrated skin.

    "Our directors had already dropped some in to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and one of our staff was also approached by a local shopkeeper.”

    Rekz Afzal

    Paisley shop owner, Rekz Afzal, who was already asking members of the community to donate unwanted moisturisers and creams for NHS staff, is now distributing the “Crazy Moisturiser” from his store.

    He says health workers can come in, show their badge, fill out a form and take away a free bottle.

    Lord Provost of Paisley, Lorraine Cameron, has also been in touch with other hospitals to offer them bottles.

    Mr Afzal added: “It’s absolutely wonderful how the community can network like this and achieve the best of care for those that care for us.”

  20. Staring down the barrel...the secret life of polar bearspublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Polar bear HamishImage source, Vickie Larkin/RZSS
    Image caption,

    Polar bear Hamish with a blue barrel on his head

    For those wondering what animals get up to while zoos are closed due to the coronavirus lockdown...

    Hamish, who in 2017 was the first polar bear cub to be born in the UK in 25 years, shares an enclosure with his mum Victoria at the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, near Aviemore.

    He has been pictured by keeper Vickie Larkin wearing one of his favourite toys, a big empty blue barrel, on his head.

    Barrels, traffic cones and construction helmets donated to the park are used to help stimulate Hamish, Victoria and two other polar bears in another enclosure, Walker and Arktos.