Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon says she will not rush to lift lockdown and will not announce this week what measures will be removed and when

  • However, the Scottish government is expected to publish its initial thinking on the decision-making process over relaxing restrictions

  • Seventy more deaths of people testing positive for Covid-19 were confirmed on Tuesday, taking the total to 985, with 222 new cases reported

  • When you add in the hundreds who have died in the community, fatalities in Scotland are well over 1,000

  • The £43m Louisa Jordan hospital at the SEC campus in Glasgow is ready for patients from today.

  • A plane carrying new equipment for the NHS - including 10 million face masks - landed in Scotland from China at the weekend.

  1. Coronavirus in Scotland - updates for 20 Aprilpublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    That concludes our coverage for today. The news website will continue to report breaking stories and live coverage will resume early on Tuesday.

  2. WATCH AGAIN: Scottish government briefingpublished at 19:12 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  3. Firefighter delays retirement due to Covid-19published at 19:09 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  4. Customers queuing for hours at B&Q 'for their sanity'published at 19:06 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Connor Gillies
    BBC Scotland reporter

    B&Q

    Customers have been queuing for hours outside B&Q at the Abbotsinch retail park in Paisley as people turn to home projects during the lockdown.

    One couple told BBC reporter Connor Gillies they decided to face the long wait just for their "sanity".

  5. New Damien Hirst artwork to 'raise spirits' during coronaviruspublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  6. Ignoring symptoms of other conditions could be worse than coronaviruspublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    GP Dr Punam Krishan says: "People are not seeking help for conditions that may potentially be avoidable, that may cause them to become really sick or in worse cases even die.

    "People need to come forward and be seeking help."

    GP on phoneImage source, Getty Images

    Dr Krisham suggests there are three reasons why people may not be coming forward:

    • People following social distancing rules are too worried to leave the house - which is why phone consultations are on offer she says.
    • There is a fear of catching coronavirus, but she warns ignoring symptoms of other diseases could lead you to a worse situation.
    • The idea people are a burden on the NHS. She adds: "There is no such burden to the healthcare services. This is what we're here for, we need to see you."
  7. Fire service tribute to former colleaguepublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  8. Tailor-made lockdown easing for European countriespublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Some countries make cautious moves to ease the lockdown, while others wait. We can't yet say who's right.

    Read More
  9. How to tell the difference between coronavirus and hay feverpublished at 18:27 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  10. Self-isolating on Britain’s most remote inhabited islandpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Ben Philip
    BBC Scotland

    Eileen Thomson and her children

    You may think that living on Britain’s most remote inhabited island would be ideal right now given the current circumstances.

    But there is nowhere and no-one that hasn’t been affected by coronavirus.

    Fair Isle sits halfway between Orkney and Shetland with a population of just 65.

    BBC Scotland’s The Nine spoke to resident Eileen Thomson, 35, who is a mum to the island’s youngest people – Ander, aged two, and his brother Luca, five.

  11. In pictures: Scotland's new temporary hospitalpublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Nurses making a bed at NHS Louisa Jordan hospitalImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Hundreds of additional beds are available at the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital at Glasgow's SEC, which is now "fully functioning".

    Beds at NHS Louisa JordanImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    The £43m facility is now ready to receive patients and is expected to be operational for at least five months

    PharmacyImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Facilities on site include a pharmacy, CT scanner and cleaning and catering teams

    NHS Louisa Jordan signImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Nicola Sturgeon says she "fervently hopes" they never have to treat any patients at the temporary hospital.

    Read more here.

  12. More than 140,000 firms claim wage bill helppublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the furlough money will help pay the wages of more than a million people.

    Read More
  13. Farmers urged to join 'virtual market'published at 17:55 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP Rachael Hamilton said many people in her area had raised concerns with her about selling their produce during lockdown.

    She is now encouraging them to sign up to the NeighbourFood service.

    Ms Hamilton said farmers' markets - like a local one in Kelso - offered "fantastic produce" and advised them to register online.

  14. Here's where to find the latest advice in Scotlandpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Here are our top tips of five places to go to answer your questions...

    1. NHS Inform, external

    The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing and stay at home advice.

    2. Ready Scotland, external

    Staying at home does not mean you are alone - there are many ways you can help your community.

    3. Citizens Advice Scotland, external

    Providing advice on benefits and employment rights.

    4. Business Support, external

    The latest advice and support for businesses.

    5. Parent Club, external

    Useful information on how to cope with home schooling and keeping your family safe.

  15. Emergency plan for student exam grades revealedpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Jamie McIvor
    BBC Scotland education correspondent

    exams

    Full details of the emergency arrangements for students whose exams have been cancelled have been announced.

    Grades for qualifications including Highers and National 5s will be based on estimates by teachers.

    The SQA has now sent full details of its plans to schools and teachers - it says it wants to ensure fairness and maintain the credibility of the system.

    Read more here.

  16. Analysis: Treat latest UK daily death total with cautionpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Nick Triggle - BBC Health correspondent

    The number of new deaths announced – 449 – is the lowest for two weeks.

    Last week the figures were hovering between 700 and 900, before dropping below 600 on Sunday.

    That is, of course, good news. Although the figures for the past two days should be treated with caution.

    They cover the weekend and we know reporting and recording delays can mean figures drop before rising again.

    But the falls are big enough to suggest we may soon start seeing the number of new deaths coming down.

    The numbers in hospital with coronavirus have already started dropping gradually so the signs are there that we are beginning to turn the corner.

  17. Around 8 million staff could be furloughedpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Daniel Tomlinson, an economist at the Resolution Foundation, says since the job retention scheme launched this morning, one million employees have been uploaded onto the government system.

    "This is an incredibly important scheme," he says.

    The economist points to estimates indicating around eight million people could be furloughed and put on the job retention scheme across the UK.

    He adds unemployment may still reach three million, but it would have risen to "astronomical levels" without the scheme.

  18. Today's UK government slidespublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  19. More than 140,000 firms apply for UK's job retention schemepublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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    More than 140,000 firms have applied for grants. from the UK government's job retention scheme opened today, RIshi Sunak says.

    The grants they receive will help pay the wages of more than a million people, he promises, as the government aims to keep as many people as possible in their existing jobs.

    HMRC chief executive Jim Harra earlier told the BBC's Today programme that employers had made 67,000 job claims in the first 30 minutes.

  20. Chancellor: PPE procurement 'international challenge'published at 17:13 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Rishi SunakImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    UK's Chancellor Rishi Sunak

    The UK's Chancellor Rishi Sunak says he wants to address the issue of PPE - which the government has been criticised on in recent days.

    He says it is an “international challenge” for all countries.

    The government is working hard to get the PPE NHS staff need, he says, and receiving shipments of PPE regularly.

    He also says the government is "working to resolve the Turkish shipment following unexpected delays" -more on that here.

    And today the UK has "unloaded 140,000 gowns from Myanmar".

    He says they are continuing to pursue “every possible option” for procurement.