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. Sadie pins hopes on charity badges successpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Sadie CookImage source, Richard Cook

    A four-year-old Dundee girl has turned her paintings into badges to raise more than £400 for NHS charities.

    Sadie Cook's designs were made into four-packs of badges and sold online through her dad Richard's shop Spex Pistols.

    The first 100 sets of badges sold out in less than an hour, with some customers also making additional cash donations.

    Sadie said she wants to make as many badges as possible "so the doctors and nurses can fix people."

  2. Coronavirus deaths in the UKpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Across the UK,16,060 people have died with coronavirus in hospitals, as of 5pm on 18 April - the latest official UK-wide figures available.

    This figure, and the numbers below, are expected to be higher when non-hospital deaths are taken into account.

    • In Scotland, 903 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital
    • In England the total number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals is 14,400
    • A total of 575 people have died in Wales
    • There have been 194 deaths reported in Northern Ireland

    We expect an update from Nicola Sturgeon at around 12.30pm and from the UK government after 5pm.

  3. Childcare issues during the coronavirus lockdownpublished at 10:25 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  4. Walkers, joggers and cyclists urged to act responsiblypublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    countryside gateImage source, Getty Images

    Walkers, joggers and cyclists are being urged to act responsibly when exercising during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Scottish Natural Heritage says it is important that people are aware of social distancing and should avoid touching gates.

    It comes after NFU Scotland reported receiving almost a hundred complaints from farmers about people accessing their land during the outbreak.

  5. 'As soon as they give the green light we have to unlock'published at 10:14 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Mornings with Kaye Adams
    BBC Radio Scotland

    IslandsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Visitors to the Highlands and Islands generate £1.2bn and support 20,000 jobs

    David Richardson, from the Federation of Small Businesses, external' Highlands and Islands branch, says the government has been consulting with businesses on how to support them through the pandemic and now on how to exit the lockdown.

    He explains the Highlands and Islands economy is very much tourist-based and seasonal, and if businesses are not able to make money from now it will make next winter particularly difficult.

    Mr Richardson also expresses concern that lockdown ending earlier elsewhere in the UK may cause some staff to leave Scotland.

    We've got to be guided by the science and by evidence form other countries, he argues.

    "As soon as they give the green light, we have to unlock because if we don't what are the consequences? Are taxpayers prepared to support business for another year?"

  6. Meanwhile Tam Cowan joins Kayepublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  7. Job Retention Scheme scenarios from STUCpublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  8. Coronavirus: Boris Johnson fears second peak from relaxing lockdownpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, Reuters

    Boris Johnson has told colleagues his concerns that relaxing lockdown measures too soon could lead to a second outbreak of coronavirus.

    The PM is understood to have met his deputy Dominic Raab at Chequers on Friday to discuss the crisis.

    He is thought to have told Mr Raab and other officials via video that stopping a second peak was his priority.

    It comes after criticism Mr Johnson did not chair or attend five early meetings about the virus.

    Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove confirmed on Sunday that the PM had not been involved in the so-called COBR meetings - Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms - as reported in the Sunday Times.

  9. Could Scotland come out of lockdown after the rest of the UK?published at 09:54 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Mornings with Kaye Adams
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Andy McIver, director of PR firm Message Matters, believes we could see the rest of the UK coming out of lockdown sooner than Scotland.

    He explains at a UK government level there is a faction of people who want to come out of lockdown pretty quickly, but a similar faction does not seem to exist within the Scottish government.

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also said she would be comfortable with a more staggered approach to different parts of the UK ending lockdown, he adds.

  10. How many cases are in your area?published at 09:44 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Nurse behind a windowImage source, Getty Images

    Sunday's figures showed a rise of 367 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours.

    This is the number of confirmed cases in each Scottish health board area, plus the number of people in hospital as of midnight, with the number in brackets those who are in intensive care.

    • Ayrshire and Arran 586, 122 in hospital (10 in intensive care)
    • Borders 237, 57 (6)
    • Dumfries and Galloway 229, 35 (5)
    • Fife 532, 127 (5)
    • Forth Valley 509, 78 (*)
    • Grampian 464, 80 (13)
    • Greater Glasgow and Clyde 1,949, 593 (62)
    • Highland 193, 65 (6)
    • Lanarkshire 1022, 279 (29)
    • Lothian 1344, 286 (28)
    • Orkney 5, * *
    • Shetland 51, * *
    • Tayside 1056, 98 (6)
    • Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) 6, * *

    There are also 10 people in the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank, managed by a Special Health Board appointed by NHS Scotland.

    * = less than 5

  11. Postpublished at 09:43 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  12. Famous names turned teacherspublished at 09:39 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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  13. 'Way too early to be talking about any kind of dates'published at 09:18 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Now, with Nicola Sturgeon denying claims that lockdown restrictions could be lifted next month, Mornings With Kaye is asking if it is too early to discuss an "exit strategy".

    Cath Franks, Owner of Steampunk café in North Berwick,tells Kaye: "I think it is way to early to be talking about any kind of dates."

    However Ms Franks adds it is never to early to be talking about a plan.

    She says the way Scotland went into lockdown was without any leadership and without any guidance from government.

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  14. 'You can't say no, because it's your mum'published at 09:06 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Angie Brown
    Edinburgh and East reporter

    Robert Smith

    When 91-year-old Irene Tulloch fell down the stairs in her Edinburgh home, breaking both ankles, she had to crawl to a phone before she could raise the alarm.

    This was the start of many falls and prompted her son, Robert Smith, to sign her up for a community alarm service (Cas).

    She wears an alarm around her neck and can use it to alert a team of helpers if she has a fall.

    However, due to lockdown and concerns over the spread of coronavirus it is now her son who will respond should she raise the alarm.

    Like many people across Scotland with elderly and vulnerable relatives, Robert Smith has been asked to step into a role that carers would normally do.

    Read more here.

  15. Coming up on Mornings With Kayepublished at 08:58 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Mornings with Kaye Adams
    BBC Radio Scotland

    On Mornings With Kaye today:

    PHONE-IN: Is it still too early to discuss the exit strategy from the lockdown?

    - get in touch by texting 80295 or calling 08085 92 95 00

    Also on the show...

    • Tam Cowan tests your knowledge in the weekly sports quiz.
    • Former rugby player Scott Hastings explains why he has been dancing with his neighbours during lockdown.
    • Nicola Singleton talks gardening for beginners
    • We'll hear about the unexpected impacts of fundraising on coronavirus.
    • Techsperts Carrie and Louise give us their tips on digital spring cleaning.
    • One of the newly-graduated doctors is on the programme before they start on the frontline
    • And...are you drinking more during lockdown?
  16. Holyrood will need to 'adapt' to coronavirus crisispublished at 08:52 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Jeane FreemanImage source, Getty Images

    Holyrood's presiding officer Ken MacIntosh says the Scottish Parliament will be working this week to find ways to adapt to the coronavirus crisis.

    MSPs are due back from recess today following the Easter break.

    Mr MacIntosh told BBC Scotland there were plans to adopt a "hybrid" model, with some parliamentary sessions in the chamber, but with social distancing measures observed, and other work being done remotely via video link.

    A maximum of 79 MSPs will be allowed in the chamber at any one time and most staff at Holyrood are already working from home.

    A new Covid-19 committee is also due to be established.

    "The ability to ask questions is crucial to the function of the parliament at any time. It's particularly important during this emergency," Mr MacIntosh said.

  17. HIV testing experts in bid to develop Covid-19 viruspublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Andrew Black
    BBC Scotland

    medical testingImage source, Getty Images

    For medical companies, the race is on to develop defences to coronavirus.

    One Scottish medical diagnostics firm, Omega, is using its expertise in HIV testing as part of a project with other companies to come up with a way to find out whether people have developed immunity after contracting Covid-19.

    It uses “lateral flow” technology – that’s a way to carry out tests at home or elsewhere, without the need for special equipment.

    Omega’s chief executive Colin King says his company is also working with others on a laboratory test which may be available in a few weeks. The lateral flow version will take longer to finalise.

    “We’re working very hard to get those products into the market, but we’ve got to make sure what we develop is accurate,” he told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme.

    “This is a global issue and we want to play our part in that and get everybody back to whatever normal life means.”

    The Alva-based company has been reconfiguring its premises to keep people safe, so its tests can be manufactured.

  18. Clapping for contractorspublished at 08:33 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    It was the NHS staff's turn to show their appreciation with a round of applause - this time for the workers who transformed the SEC into a hospital.

    Contractors handed NHS Louisa Jordan over to medical staff on Sunday, ready to go operational from today.

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  19. NHS Louisa Jordan in place for 'at least five months'published at 08:30 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Jill Young says the emergency coronavirus hospital in Glasgow will be in place for at least five months, with an option to extend its life if it is still needed.

    Ms Young told the BBC that her team would be looking at a decommissioning strategy, but said there were no plans for that yet.

    "We are here to support the NHS for as long as we're required," she added.