Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Jason Leitch tells Good Morning Scotland that widespread population testing would not help at this point, but he says there will be an opportunity to do more of that as the "testing science" improves.

He says that the tests get better as the science develops, but notes that the infection-type tests used for key workers and patients suspected of having Covid-19 will never be 100% accurate.

Image source, Getty Images

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Jason Leitch says there is no way, at the moment, of measuring how many people in Scotland have been infected with Covid-19.

He also says it is not clear how long the virus gives you immunity for once you have contracted it.

Mr Leitch says that if Covid-19 is like other coronaviruses then people who are infected will have some immunity for a certain period, but this will run out after a number of months or years.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland's National Clinical Director says social distancing measures will need to be in place until a treatment or vaccine is available for Covid-19.

Jason Leitch told Good Morning Scotland that a treatment would likely come faster, but would not be as good as having a vaccine.

He said a vaccine would hopefully be available by the end of the year, but that billions of people around the globe would then need vaccinating.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

The managing director of care home in Fife has praised her staff for providing the very best care in a "very hard time".

Rachel Payne said staff at the Bandrum Nursing Home were doing all they could to keep up the spirits of residents during the coronavirus crisis.

But Ms Payne told Good Morning Scotland that it was becoming difficult to get hold of essential protective equipment as supplies ran low and said many residents were scared.

Figures released yesterday show that a third of those who lose their lives to Covid-19 are dying in care homes.

Calls for more Covid-19 testing in care homes and the future after lockdown make the front pages of Scotland's papers. See our full review here.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

An expert in the resettlement of offenders says the decision to release up to 450 prisoners early because of the coronavirus crisis was a difficult but "proportionate" decision.

Tom Halpin, the former chief executive of the Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, said there were a number of measures in place to keep people safe.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the whole process had been subject to "considerable risk assessment", with exclusions for certain offenders and a final veto given to the prisoner governor.

However, Mr Halpin said he recognised the concerns of victims.

There are fears the early release of some prisoners in Scotland could lead to re-offending if they are not given face-to-face support.

The Justice Secretary, who will appear for questioning at Holyrood today, said up to 450 prisoners on short sentences with less than three months to serve will be eligible to be released from as early as a week today.

The Scottish government and the Scottish Prison Service stressed that all inmates would be supported as they transition to life in the community, including additional help and information being provided.

Image source, Getty Images

Asylum seekers in Glasgow say their health is being put at risk after they were moved into hotels during the coronavirus crisis.

It is claimed dozens of people have been re-located from their temporary homes. Those affected say using the same public spaces as others is compromising their safety.

Image source, Getty Images

The Home Office said it was only moving asylum seekers where it was necessary and that it was following strict guidance from public health authorities.

Image source, Getty Images

The GMB union has said the deaths of any NHS or care worker from coronavirus should be investigated by a Fatal Accident Inquiry.

The call echoes demands in England for coroners' inquests to be held into what was termed deaths on active service and under controvesial occupational conditions.

According to the latest figures, 69 NHS and 15 social care staff across the UK have died from Covid-19. No separate figures are available for Scotland.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland’s muslim communities will begin marking the holy month of Ramadan later.

With lockdown continuing, there will be no congregational acts of worship outside the home and mosques around the country are urging people to join in virtual gatherings and rituals online.

In a bid to retain energy and maintain good health, The Muslim Council of Great Britain suggests eating high-energy, slow-burning foods during the second meal of the night, which takes place just before dawn ahead of daylight fasting hours.

Image source, Masks for Scotland

A star-studded event streamed online to buy protective equipment for the NHS raised more than £16,000 in its first hour.

The "For the Love of Scotland" fundraiser was on for three hours on Wednesday evening helping raise money for the Masks for Scotland charity.

The event was hosted by DJ Edith Bowman and featured Annie Lennox performing a ‘lullaby for Scotland’ in the shape of 'Dream Angus' which the singer described as "one of the most beautiful traditional Scottish folk songs I learned as a child"

Actor James McAvoy also joined the fundraiser.

Image source, get

The Scottish government will reveal later the thinking behind its lockdown exit planning for Scotland.

A new paper aimed at "charting a way forward beyond the coronavirus lockdown" will be published.

Nicola Sturgeon has said it is the start of a “grown up conversation” with the public about the “new normal” for Scotland.

The paper is not expected to spell out any specific measures but instead describe the factors being considered by the experts.

Medical students who are not yet qualified to work are giving free child care to NHS staff struggling to find help.

A pairing scheme has been set up by students using either the Bubble app or Facebook - medical staff who need child care post their details and student members of the group can reach out to make arrangements.

Amy McGirk, a 5th year student at Edinburgh University, joined the scheme after her hospital placement was cancelled.

Instead she has been looking after 10-year-old Brooke and three-year-old Cayden, letting mum Linda Fox get on with her work as a mental health staff nurse.

Amy said: "My fifth year finished very quickly. It was a bit anti-climactic, and it was actually good to know we could do something to help even though we couldn't work directly on the frontline. So I signed up because it seemed like the natural thing to do."

Welcome to Thursday's live coverage of the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland.

Coming up

• Nicola Sturgeon will set out her strategy for exiting the coronavirus lockdown. But she will make clear that an end to the tough restrictions is not imminent – and that some constraints will continue for a prolonged period.
• The GMB union has said the deaths of any NHS or care worker from coronavirus should be investigated by a Fatal Accident Inquiry.
• Concerns are being raised that the early release of some prisoners in Scotland to combat coronavirus could lead to re-offending.