Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon returns to the Holyrood chamber for first minister's questions

  • Scotland's chief economist says Scottish economic output could fall by a third during the coronavirus emergency

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

  • Police are given new powers to enforce two meter distancing rules in the work place

  • Official figures reveal 12 care homes in Scotland no longer have enough staff to meet the needs of residents.

  1. Goodbyepublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Thanks for joining us on Scotland's coronavirus live page. Here is a summary of the main developments:

  2. No social distancing needed for bin-collecting couplepublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Everyone is having to adopt new ways of working at the moment.

    But if you are healthy you don't have to socially distance from those you live with, so South Lanarkshire Council has paired up two of their bin collectors who are married.

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  3. Thirteen suspected Covid-19 deaths at Edinburgh care homepublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 21 April 2020
    Breaking

    David Cowan
    BBC Scotland

    Guthrie House Care Home in EdinburghImage source, Google

    Thirteen residents at a care home in Edinburgh are thought to be among the latest victims of Covid 19 in Scotland.

    Four Seasons Health Care confirmed there have been deaths at Guthrie House Care Home in the south-east of the capital.

    The company said it had strict protocols in place at all of its care homes in the UK and were informing the authorities of any cases among its residents and staff.

    The latest figures on deaths in care homes and the wider community will be released tomorrow.

  4. Couple celebrate their 'not wedding' daypublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Couple celebrate their ‘not wedding day’

    A couple have held a mock wedding ceremony to mark the day they were meant to get married.

    Laura McKinlay and Ruaridh Macmillan, who live near Falkirk, were due to wed on Saturday in Inverness.

    But most marriages and civil partnerships are not taking place because of the lockdown.

    Laura and Ruaridh held what they called a "not our wedding day" and linked up with family and friends via video calls.

    They had fun on their special day, with Laura using a fitted bed sheet for the veil while Ruaridh wore his pyjamas instead of a kilt.

  5. Social distancing regulations strengthened to include workers in Scotlandpublished at 18:27 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Workers not socially distancingImage source, PA media

    Social distancing regulations introduced to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been extended to protect workers by the Scottish government.

    Temporary regulations restricting public gatherings and non-essential business activity have been in force since 26 March.

    The regulations must be reviewed every 3 weeks and are kept under continual review by the government.

    Today a number of amendments have been made to protect workers and provide further guidance for people in Scotland.

    The adjustments to the regulations include formalising the two metre distancing rules to all businesses that remain open.

    Businesses that do not take all reasonable measures to enforce those rules could be fined or ultimately prosecuted.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus social distancing advice: What two metres looks like

  6. Coronavirus doctor 'just happy to get back to work'published at 18:15 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Geraldine McGroartyImage source, Geraldine McGroarty/Facebook
    Image caption,

    Geraldine McGroarty was hospitalised three weeks ago

    A doctor who feared she may not recover after being hospitalised with coronavirus three weeks ago is preparing for her first shift back at work.

    Geraldine McGroarty, who is originally from Greenock, described feeling like she was "drowning in lung fluid" when her condition was at its most serious.

    She told BBC Scotland's Drivetime with John Beattie she is now "much better" but is unsure what the long-term damage will be.

    Dr McGroarty said: "I'm just happy to get back helping people again."

    Read more here.

  7. How GP surgeries are working during an epidemicpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Lisa Summers
    BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

    Blood test taken in a GP surgery car park in Penicuik
    Image caption,

    Blood test taken in a GP surgery car park in Penicuik

    I spent the morning at a GP practice in Penicuik in Midlothian.

    The waiting room was deserted, only a tiny fraction of patients are now coming to the surgery, most will have a consultation by phone or video call.

    Behind the scenes receptionists are busy managing calls, the team here can take 400 to 500 a day.

    Any patients who need to come to the practice are met by a doctor or nurse in protective clothing. Those with suspected Covid-19 are directed to coronavirus assesment centres.

    Just like in hospitals it's important to make every effort to minimise the risk of infection for both patients and staff.

    Routine blood tests are carried out in the car park, a make shift gazebo covers a drive-in space where the patient rolls down their window and stretches out their arm.

    House calls do still happen, the staff tell me, they need to check in on their most vulnerable patients. But after a chap at the door to say the doctor has arrived, the visor, gloves, mask and apron are all donned.

    Doctors say they are worried that some people are ignoring symptoms for too long. They want people to know that behind the closed front door, they are very much open for business.

    The role of the GP has always been to manage a patient's care in the community, to keep them out of hospital unless they need to be there. More than ever that is a vital service to ensure our hospitals don't become overwhelmed.

  8. MSPs agree to set up a Covid-19 Committeepublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

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  9. WATCH AGAIN: Call for £29 extra daily for frontline NHS and care staffpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

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  10. Hancock: Human vaccine trials to start in UK this Thursdaypublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    On a vaccine for Covid-19, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says: "I am certain we will throw everything we've got at developing a vaccine."

    He says the UK has "put more money than any other country on a vaccine search".

    He mentions trials at Oxford and Imperial College London universities, saying they are "both promising projects" making "rapid progress".

    He says the government will be giving £20m to the Oxford team to fund their clinical trials - and they will be trialing a vaccine on people starting on Thursday.

  11. WATCH AGAIN: Harvie asks why testing capacity is being underusedpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

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  12. Human trials for coronavirus vaccine to begin on Thursdaypublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

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  13. UK daily briefing starts: Hancock says plan is workingpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    UK's Health Secretary Matt HancockImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    UK's Health Secretary Matt Hancock

    The UK's Health Secretary Matt Hancock has begun today's daily coronavirus briefing by saying: "At the heart of our plan is ensuring NHS capacity is always ahead of need.

    "If you or someone you love needs hospital care with covid-19, then you will always get that care."

    He says the plan to slow the spread of the virus is working - but there is still some way to go.

    You can follow updates here.

  14. Rennie calls for extra £29 a day for frontline NHS and social care staffpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Holyrood Live
    BBC Parliaments

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie RennieImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie welcomes the testing of all new residents of care homes and calls for an extra £29 a day reward for NHS and care frontline staff during the pandemic.

    The first minister pledges to consider any suggestion like that and says the government will reflect properly on this experience.

    What we are learning about what really matters in life should be reflected in what we spend as a government, she adds.

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    Mr Rennie says Inclusion Scotland has identified "worrying evidence, at times horrific", of the experience of children with additional support needs during the lockdown.

    Ms Sturgeon says her government is considering on an ongoing basis of how better to support the vulnerable and that will be to the fore of the government's thinking as the country moves to the next phase.

    She points out that the guidance around children with autism being able to exercise more than once a day has been clarified.

  15. Capacity being built for contract tracing post-lockdownpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Holyrood Live
    BBC Parliaments

    Mr Harvie

    Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie insists economic recovery must mean we stop undervaluing those people whose work we all rely on, such as cleaners and carers.

    He seeks a commitment that public support will be directed to "clean, green industries" rather than high-carbon industry, those who pay "poverty wages" and those registered in tax havens.

    The first minister agrees that economic recovery must be in line with the society and country we are trying to build.

    These are big debates I hope we get to engage with properly in the not too distant future, Ms Sturgeon says, though she says the focus now remains on dealing with responding to the virus.

    Ms Sturgeon

    Mr Harvie says the "test, trace and isolate" strategy is not in place yet, expressing concern that testing capacity is not being fully utilised.

    The first minister says that when the most stringent restrictions are lifted, we will still need to be taking measures to suppress the virus. Building capacity is not just about testing but also contact tracing, she explains.

    On testing specifically, Ms Sturgeon says the government is looking at where to deploy extra capacity - for example care-home workers are now to be tested in the same way NHS workers are.

  16. WATCH AGAIN: 'Resistance' to moving people to hospital from care homespublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

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  17. Care home providers have a responsibility to provide PPE to staff - FMpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Holyrood Live
    BBC Parliaments

    Scottish Labour leader Richard LeonardImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard

    Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard says he is hearing from council leaders and NHS and social care workers that PPE is "still a big issue". He asks what the advice is to care workers in care homes without the PPE they need tonight.

    Ms Sturgeon says care home providers will not be fulfilling their responsibilities to staff if that is the case and she reiterates the e-mail address for those with concerns, which is Covid-19-health-PPE@gov.scot.

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    Mr Leonard also raises concerns about someone being asked to give consent to a "do not attempt CPR notice" for a loved one and asks why care home residents are being treated differently to other Covid-19 patients.

    The first minister says any person with Covid-19 should be treated as an individual and treatment should be clinically driven.

    Any discussion about DNR (do not resuscitate) must be sensitive and no-one should be forced to sign one, she adds.

    Mr Leonard asks why there is reluctance to move people from care homes to hospitals. The first minister replies that anyone who needs to be in hospital should be in one.

    "Everybody deserves person-centred care that is right for them," says Ms Sturgeon.

  18. WATCH AGAIN: Carlaw raises concerns about PPEpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

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  19. PPE distribution lines in place for care homespublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

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  20. FMQs: Carlaw focuses on PPE suppliespublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Holyrood Live
    BBC Parliaments

    Jackson Carlaw

    Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw congratulates everyone involved in making NHS Louisa Jordan ready for operation. He pivots to people avoiding attending hospitals despite having serious conditions unrelated to Covid-19.

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon echoes Mr Carlaw's comments on the coronavirus hospital, before urging the public to seek medical help if they need it.

    Mr Carlaw next asks about issues with PPE access, highlighting an intensive care doctor in Glasgow has not had a response nine days after emailing the government's support line.

    first minister

    The first minister says efforts to get PPE to all who need it are continuous. On the Glasgow case, she confirms the issue has been dealt with but the clinician has not been responded to.

    We have sufficient stocks of PPE and we are always looking at replenishing as they are used, with gowns and goggles being the areas of most concern at the moment, the first minister says.

    The Scottish Tory leader asks for specific figures on PPE but Ms Sturgeon explains any figure she gives will almost immediately be out of date as the situation moves on.

    We've got 1-2 weeks of aprons on stock and 12 weeks' worth of gloves, but items are continually used and replenished, she adds.

    Ms Sturgeon also reiterates the guidance that single-use PPE should not be reused.