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The vast majority of people are obeying the rules over lockdown but small groups are not, with Police Scotland making 78 arrests and issuing 1,637 fixed penalty notices since 27 March.

Sharon Frew of STV asks whether the First Minister thinks it will become harder for the police to enforce compliance the longer lockdown goes on.

Ms Sturgeon admits that she worries about compliance but her experience is that "the public want to do the right thing" and it is incumbent on the government therefore to be open about the reasoning behind the measures.

Humza Yousaf, the Justice Secretary, points to the "compliant dispersals", where people willingly move on once approached by the police. Mr Yousaf praises the police for their "common sense" approach to enforcing lockdown.

The first minister explains that the new online system allowing coronavirus tests for all essential workers and their families is currently down due to "technical difficulties" associated with high demand.

In response to a question from BBC Scotland's Fiona Walker, she says "we are ready to go live" with the tests.

There is a promise of more guidance on clarity on who is included but there are four main groups.

• Health & social care workers, who will continue with testing through health boards
• Essential workers in critical national infrastructure - lifeline services
• Staff involved in delivering other essential services
• Those volunteering or in significant industry that is important to the economy

Alan Smith of Bauer Media asks Professor Jason Leitch what he makes of US President Donald Trump's suggestion that disinfectant could potentially be injected into the body to help with the treatment of coronavirus.

Prof Leitch says injecting disinfectant will be no help at all.

Instead he points to research around the world about the effect of disinfectant on surfaces and reiterates that "disinfectant is for surfaces, not for bodies".

Nicola Sturgeon adds that there is a danger of leaders repeating things they have "half-heard" in public, stressing "it is a very, very bad idea and extremely dangerous".

Ramadan "will have to be different" for Scotland's Muslim community, says Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, who is himself observing the month-long period of fasting, prayer and reflection.

Normally, there would be a heavy focus on social interaction with family and friends but that cannot happen due to the lockdown restrictions.

"Fast at home, pray at home, stay at home," says Mr Yousaf.

Ramadan began yesterday and runs until 23 May.

Jason Leitch, Scotland's national clinical director, acknowledges the "outstanding" contribution of Scotland's faith communities in helping fellow citizens.

He praises the chaplains and spiritual carers who are giving people comfort across Scotland's health services.

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon plans to set out in the days and weeks ahead much more detail on the different options to come out of lockdown.

The scientific basis will be part of the detail that is published to help people understand the options, she says.

By following the advice about staying at home, social distancing and washing our hands, Ms Sturgeon says we can "hasten the day" when Scotland can return to some form of normality.

She says the sacrifices with lockdown are "having a positive impact" and that "it is vital that we stick with it".

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The first minister reveals that another large consignment of PPE has arrived from China in the last hour, including 100,000 testing kits and 10 million face masks.

She then thanks the 1600 companies that have answered the call to assist in the fight against Covid-19, saying they are playing a "critical role".

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Ms Sturgeon says she took part in the applause for care workers last night. She says it is just "one small way" in which we can show our appreciation for the work that they do.

The First Minister reveals that a quarter of a million people have downloaded her government's coronavirus framework document,, external which was published yesterday.

She says there "will be changes in how we live our lives that will be necessary for some time to come".

Nicola Sturgeon says the lower figures for hospital admissions and numbers of patients in intensive care are giving "real and growing cause for optimism".

But the first minister says they also show why we must stay with the lockdown restrictions for now.

She believes any let-up risks reversing the progress that has been made.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 9,697 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland, up 288 on yesterday.

A further 64 patients have died in hospital, taking the total under that measurement to 1,184 in Scotland.

1,710 patients are in hospital with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, a decrease of 38, with 141 being treated in intensive care, a decrease of seven.

Image source, AFP

Nicola Sturgeon will update us on the latest figures and developments around the coronavirus crisis in Scotland shortly.

The first minister will be joined by national clinical director Jason Leitch and Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf.

You can follow the briefing on the BBC Scotland channel or right here by clicking the link above.

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An independent review group set up to monitor the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in the Catholic church is continuing to work through the Covid-19 pandemic.

The body, chaired by Baroness Helen Liddell, was established following the McLellan Commission, external report in 2015.

It made a series of recommendations as to how the church should respond to allegations of abuse.

A group update, external said: "The work of safeguarding is particularly important at a time when people are physically isolated, may have less support than usual and may be worried and frightened."

The statement also acknowledged "the driving commitment of many in the church to ensure that the vulnerable among us are protected and shielded with love and compassion."

Last year the group called on the Catholic church in Scotland to revamp its measures for protecting young and vulnerable people.

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As the Covid-19 Committee comes to an end, Beatrice Wishart, Lib Dem MSP for the Shetland Islands, asks a question about the "digital divide" - those who have access to new digital technology and those who do not.

Ms Wishart asks if tracking technology is so important to the Scottish government's plan for testing and tracing as we come out of lockdown, what can be done for those in remote and rural communities or those who do not have smartphones?

Michael Russell says improvements have been made in terms of internet connectivity in remote areas but it could yet be better. In terms of access to devices like smartphones and training on how to use them, Mr Russell says the government "will need to look at that very carefully".

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Extra hospital beds have been created at a nursing home in Hawick to ease the pressure on health services in the Borders.

The beds at Deanfield Care Home are for patients who are being assessed before they are moved into a care setting or back to their homes.

Tracey Logan, the chief executive of Scottish Borders Council, said the extra beds would be a "significant help" in maintaining capacity at Borders General Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The beds will be available from Monday on the top floor of the care home, and the new arrangements will not have any impact on the 17 current residents.

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In response to a question from the SNP's Annabelle Ewing, Constitutional Affairs Secretary Michael Russell says the Scottish government will continue to push for an extension to the 31 December Brexit deadline, saying that "pressing ahead without a safety net" would be "extraordinary".

He outlines what he says are the difficulties with resources, scrutiny and impact in the midst of the coronavirus, saying he has not had any contact with the UK government on the matter for six weeks.

"We don't agree with Brexit, but we accept that it's probably going to happen," he tells the Covid-19 Committee. "You can't do it at this stage and we should be asking 'what is the best kind of Brexit, given the change in circumstances?'

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A small number of "irresponsible and selfish people" are "repeatedly and wilfully" flouting coronavirus lockdown rules, according to Police Scotland.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said this "small minority" have now received multiple fines.

Officers have made 78 arrests and issued 1,637 fixed penalty notices in Scotland since 27 March.

Most of the enforcement action has been taken in response to house parties and other public gatherings.

Read more here.

Angie Brown
Edinburgh and East reporter

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Kerbside glass recycling collections in Edinburgh will resume next week after being suspended under changes to help the city respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

Blue box collection for glass recycling will start again from Tuesday.

The service was stopped in March to help prioritise resources for other essential bin collections while enabling waste collection crews to observe social distancing guidelines.

Adam McVey, City of Edinburgh Council leader, said: “Following the return of several team members from absence, as well as the bedding in of new collection arrangements, we will be able to reintroduce kerbside glass recycling collections.”

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Adam Tomkins, Conservative MSP for Glasgow, asks Michael Russell about the reference in the Scottish government's Covid-19 framework document, external to the virus's reproduction number ("R") that is estimated to stand at between 0.6 and 1.0.

The framework document describes the reproduction number as "a measure of the contagiousness or transmissibility of a virus – in other words, the number of cases each infected person passes the virus on to".

Mr Tomkins says that the more the committee understands about how that number is calculated, the more able its members will be to hold the government to account.

Mr Russell, the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business, tells the committee that he will seek additional information because he is "ill qualified" to respond, and that the question highlights the "pressure" everyone is under during the lockdown in having to do things they are not used to.

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SNP MSP Shona Robison tells the virtual Covid-19 Committee she has received "very positive feedback" from some of her Dundee City East constituents about the framework document, external published by the Scottish government yesterday about routes out of lockdown. She asks how the public can have their say.

Michael Russell points to an email address that was published with the document and highlights the duty of parliamentarians to engage with the public.

In relation to the "framework for decision making", the Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations says the document has been published but "is not a yes or no, it's about learning what people feel about the document".

The government wants to hear people's views and experiences so that they can contribute to the policy, he adds.