Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

With so many deaths in care homes, BBC Scotland's John Beattie asks if the Scottish government took their eye off the ball at the start of this crisis.

"I don't believe we did," says Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, saying the care sector has "always been a keen focus".

"We recognised the risk in any institutional setting early on and guidance was issued on 13 March that included the end of all communal activity - and visiting.

"Since then we have increased attention and clinical support to care homes."

Ms Freeman admits there were initial issues in the supply of PPE and says there may be examples where the guidance was not followed to the letter, although she stresses "we don't have complete evidence yet".

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, STEPHEN CRAWFORD

More than half of Scotland's coronavirus deaths are now happening in care homes, according to new figures.

But Dr Donald Macaskill of Scottish Care warned against "pointing fingers", as care home workers were following the advice.

When asked on Drivetime if the sector should accept any responsibility, Dr Macaskill replied: "I think that's a highly inappropriate question when faced with a pandemic."

Not one care provider has acted in a way that falls short of what was advised, he insisted.

"Have we concentrated too much on the NHS and not on social care? Of course we have.

"If we could do it differently I think we would have focused more on the preservation of life of those who are old, regardless of where they find themselves."

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman is being interviewed by John Beattie on Radio Scotland.

Image source, bbc

Dominic Raab says the lockdown will not be eased until ministers know a "second peak" can be avoided.

He says this is a "real risk", which could result in "many more deaths" and further "economic pain" with a second lockdown.

He says the government are working on plans for a "second phase" but urges patience.

He says ministers will wait for scientific advisers to report back in early May before making a decision.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Jackie Foster believes her mum's dementia has been exacerbated by social isolation at the care home she has been staying.

Jackie was unable to visit for over month due to the coronavirus pandemic and her mum's condition has "deteriorated quite significantly" since then.

"I can't believe in sort of a month I'm waiting for her to pass," she tells John Beattie.

She has now been able to visit the care home, but she must wear a mask, gloves and apron - and she is unsure if her mum can even see her.

Jackie says a balance needs to be struck between quality of life and longevity, and wishes she could have visited when her mum would have been able to enjoy it more.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, GETTY IMAGES

Doctors around the UK have been warned to look out for an unusual reaction in children that may be linked to a Covid-19 infection. This includes "multi-system inflammation" with flu-like symptoms.

Some, but not all, tested positive for coronavirus.

Dr. Poppy Lamberton, a global health specialist at the University of Glasgow, explains that there have been approximately 20 cases in the UK and says that it is similar to Toxic Shock Syndrome and Kawasaki disease , although it is not yet known if there is any link.

"There are a lot of unknowns," Dr Lamberton tells BBC Radio Scotland. "What we do know is that it is very serious, but also very rare.

"Toxic Shock Syndrome and Kawasaki disease can be treated if detected early, so that's why it is vitally important that doctors have their eyes out for this."

Read more about the rare syndrome seen in UK children

A total of 26,097 people have died with coronavirus in the UK from 2 March to 28 April.

For the first time, the UK-wide figure will include deaths in care homes and the community as well as hospitals.

The deaths counted are people who died after testing positive for the virus.

Image source, Getty Images

More than half of Scotland's coronavirus deaths are now happening in care homes, according to new figures.

Data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed that 338 of the 656 deaths recorded between 20 and 26 April were in care homes.

The figures bring the total number of people to have died with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus to 2,272.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the deaths included six members of NHS staff and five social care workers.

Dr Donald Macaskill, the CEO of Scottish Care, will be on Drivetime with John Beattie after the news and Health Secretary Jeane Freeman is due on the programme after 5.30pm.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

"Coronavirus is ripping the life out of people well before their time and it's not something that we should just accept," says Adam Stachura, Head of Policy at Age Scotland.

"While efforts of staff have been exemplary, the nature of conditions in care homes makes the residents particularly vulnerable. It's not unexpected, but it is desperately sad."

Data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed that 338 of Scotland’s coronavirus 656 deaths recorded between 20 and 26 April were in care homes.

Of the 2,272 deaths linked to the virus since the outbreak began, just over half have happened in hospitals, with 39% in care homes and 9% at home or in non-institutional settings.

People aged 75 or over have accounted for 74% of the deaths.

Image source, EPA

Fresh from deputising for Boris Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions earlier, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will lead today’s UK government press conference in around ten minutes.

This of course after Mr Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds announced the birth of a son.

Alongside Mr Raab will be Prof Jonathan Van Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, and Prof Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England.

You can watch press conference and get live updates here.

Image source, PA Media

Data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that 338 of the 656 deaths recorded between 20 and 26 April were in care homes. That's more than half.

Scottish Care, external CEO Dr Donald Macaskill, who will be on Drivetime after 5pm, has called for:

• all staff and residents to be tested where there has been a case of Covid-19
• a strategy to extend testing to care homes where there are no reported cases
• wants masks to be worn by all staff in care homes, and among those delivering home care.
• addressing of increased costs this will ensue

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister told today's media briefing the Scottish government is already moving to testing people without symptoms, although she said the tests will not be as reliable.

Ms Sturgeon also said the next steps for testing in care homes will be set out in the next few days, probably on Friday.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the total number of deaths linked to coronavirus has passed 2,200, as she led today's Scottish government briefing.

Here's the main points that emerged today:

• deaths linked to coronavirus in Scotland has reached 2,272, the NRS weekly figures show
• a further 656 deaths involving Covid-19 were recorded in the week to 26 April - more than half of them in care homes

• six members of NHS staff and five members of social care staff have died after contracting the virus

Image source, bbc

• Just over half of the 2,272 deaths happened in hospitals, with 39% of them in care homes and 9% at home or in non-institutional settings
• People aged 75 or over accounted for 74% of the deaths
• only 17 of those who died were under the age of 45

Read more here

Image source, bbc

A total of 11 NHS staff and carers in Scotland have died with coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.

Nicola Sturgeon revealed for the first time that six NHS staff and five carers have died.

But the first minister stressed they did not all necessarily contract the virus in their workplace.

Meanwhile, BBC Scotland understands the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating one of the care worker deaths.

Read more here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Radio Scotland's Drivetime with John Beattie is getting underway, here's what's on the programme today:

• with more than half of coronavirus deaths now in care homes, John will speak to Age Scotland and Scottish Care
• he'll also hear from the relatives of families losing loved ones in homes
• as the overall Scottish death toll reaches 2,272 - Health Secretary Jean Freeman will be on the programme after 5.30pm
• and.....it's a boy - Boris Johnson has become a dad again for - we think - the sixth time

Image source, Getty Images

UK online grocery shopping is up by a third this year, with marketing experts expecting the trend to be sustained.

The cost of some groceries have been rising, but non-food prices are being widely discounted, while we are using less cash, our shop visits have fallen during lockdown and baskets are fuller.

Analysis of British online groceries by data firm Mintel suggest it will mean a 33% rise this year, to £16.8 billion pounds, and then to keep rising at least until to 2024. Until this year, growth had been slowing.

Meanwhile, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) says prices of fresh food, and cupboard staples edged up in the past month, with discounts disappearing.

On non-food items, prices fell by 3.7% in the same period, the sharpest one-month decline since this BRC survey began.

Chris McLaughlin
BBC Scotland Sports News Correspondent

Image source, SNS

The chief executive of the SPFL says the bickering and infighting in Scottish football is doing reputational damage and is placing intolerable stress on members of the board.

Neil Doncaster was speaking after calls for his suspension and a wider investigation into the league’s handling of a key vote on ending the lower leagues campaign early due to the coronavirus crisis.

Rangers have accused the SPFL of bullying and coercion but Doncaster told BBC Scotland the rumour and innuendo is simply unacceptable and said that any evidence of wrong-doing must be presented to the board. The issue will be discussed at an EGM on 12 May.

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Image source, Getty Images

Ithaca Energy, one of the biggest North Sea operators, says it plans to half its capital spend to $125m (£100m) this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It also plans to cut operational costs by 16% to $370m (£298m).

The company expanded at the end of 2019, with the $2bn acquisition of Chevron North Sea.

It has been pumping 75,000 barrels of oil per day, but now plans to cut that back by 10%.

It comes as the dive in the oil price has forced producers in the North Sea and around the world to cut capital expenditure plans sharply, and to push for more efficient production spending.

• EnQuest warns of more than 500 North Sea redundancies