Two sets of figures are reported in Scotland - the first is the daily tally which is calculated by Health Protection Scotland and focuses on fatalities where a positive test was confirmed. These are mainly hospital deaths. The second figure comes from the National Records of Scotland which includes not only positive cases but also deaths in the community, mostly care homes, where Covid-19 was suspected to have played a part.

The latest update on hospital and non-hospital fatalities suggest a total 2,272 people have died with coronavirus in Scotland.

The National Records of Scotland figures include all deaths where coronavirus was believed to have been present, rather than just confirmed cases.

Between 20 to 26 April, 656 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered, an increase of four from the previous week.

More than a third of all registered deaths so far have occurred in care homes (39%), while just over half (52%) were in hospitals.

Image source, Getty Images

Authorities in Switzerland say it is now safe for children under the age of 10 to hug their grandparents, in a revision to official advice on coronavirus.

The health ministry's infectious diseases chief Daniel Koch said scientists had concluded that young children did not transmit the virus.

"Young children are not infected and do not transmit the virus," he said. "They just don't have the receptors to catch the disease."

However, he stressed such meetings should be brief and not involve babysitting.

Switzerland is one of several European countries beginning to ease their lockdown measures.

Read more.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of a son.

A spokeswoman for the PM and his partner said both mother and baby are "doing very well".

It is understood the PM, who has just recovered from coronavirus, was present throughout the birth, at an NHS hospital in London.

"The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team," the PM's spokeswoman added.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will take Mr Johnson's place at PMQs, follow live updates here.

Image source, SNS

The University of Glasgow has been awarded more than £1m from the Scottish Government to undertake nine Covid-19 research projects.

The work undertaken will include treatments for the virus, underlying health conditions, secondary infections and the long-term effects of social distancing on the population.

Professor Iain McInnes, Director of the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, said: "I am certain our world-leading researchers will be able to provide key insights that will help the global fight against this disease."

The funds are part of £5m awarded by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office after a rapid research response call aimed at increasing the understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and more details on the nine projects are available here..., external

1. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing and stay at home advice.

2. Ready Scotland, external

Staying at home does not mean you are alone - there are many ways you can help your community.

3. Citizens Advice Scotland, external

Providing advice on benefits and employment rights.

4. Business Support, external

The latest advice and support for businesses.

5. Parent Club, external

Useful information on how to cope with home schooling and keeping your family safe.

6. Clear Your Head, external

Tips from the Scottish government to help get you through this difficult time.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19): public use of face coverings, external

Scottish government advice on the personal use of face coverings during the pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

A review into Scotland's secondary education system has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish government has said.

Education Secretary John Swinney said the final report from the review would now not be published until June 2021.

It had originally been expected to be released in February of next year - ahead of the Holyrood election in May.

The Scottish Conservatives claimed the delay was about "political expediency" rather than the virus.

The independent review is being led by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Read more here.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

Image source, Reuters

We were told the baby was due in early summer, so it has come early. But we are told both Carrie Symonds and the baby boy are doing well. Not much more is known.

What a tumultuous few weeks in the Johnson household with Boris Johnson having a near-death experience and now the birth of the baby boy. And hugely worrying for Carrie Symonds, who herself had coronavirus symptoms, with the uncertainty and the fear compounded.

It has been an extraordinary emotional rollercoaster which fortunately seems to have ended well for them.

Cynical old hacks like me were assuming Boris Johnson wouldn't be taking part in Prime Minister's Questions because his health wasn't up to it. Actually there is a better and happier reason for not taking part.

I guess there will be a question as to whether he will be taking paternity leave and moving back from frontline politics... I would doubt it given the gravity of the crisis we are in. I would imagine any respite from dealing with coronavirus would be pretty limited.

Image source, Getty Images

A Scottish care home owner is warning that "thousands more" will die unless extra funding is made available for the independent sector.

Robert Kilgour, who runs Renaissance Care with 15 homes and 700 residents, said: "Care homes are on the frontline, and our residents and staff are enduring an absolutely torrid time.

"Unless we get desperately needed funding, thousands more elderly people in care homes will die across the UK.

"Our brave staff are fighting 24/7 against the Coronavirus onslaught, with many working enormous shifts to care for those they consider to be their second families.

"With a few honourable exceptions such as Fife and Dumfries & Galloway Councils, Scottish local authorities are refusing to fund their independent care homes to the same level as their own local authority facilities. It’s a national scandal and is putting vulnerable people’s lives at grave risk.”

Pauline McLean
BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

It started with just six musicians and 35 children but Sistema Scotland now has four orchestras around the country helping close to 3,000 children learn confidence and discipline through music.

And while lockdown may be keeping the young musicians apart, the music is still going on online - with tutors providing virtual lessons.

“It wasn’t a question about should we do this, it was how we do it,” said director Nicola Killean.

“Because some of the children in our Big Noise orchestras have been coming to our after-school for years. It was a big part of their lives growing up, so it was really important that we try to maintain that form of support."

She added: “One of the great things about using video conferencing is that you get that little insight into people’s lives and for some of the lessons families are helping out - tuning instruments - and siblings have been getting involved.”

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says prioritising resource towards Covid-19 has meant changes to a host of other work.

But she insists the government remains committed to its climate change targets, though it is vitally important actions in the coming weeks and months reflect the current situation.

The update to the Climate Change Plan has been paused, but reports on the adaptation programme, emissions reductions and land use strategy progress are still expected before the end of June, she says.

The cabinet secretary hopes to lay the updated Climate Change Plan before this committee by the end of this year which will take account of the economic impact of Covid-19.

Turning to COP26, Ms Cunningham says the UK remains committed to hosting it in Glasgow but there as no indication of a new date yet. She says 2021 may become a crowded calendar with various other events being rescheduled.

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Professor Jason Leitch, with the Scottish government's national clinical director has been answering your questions on the advice given yesterday on the limited use of facial coverings.

Q: Why is it not mandatory?

A: The evidence is not strong enough and we don't want to create a stigma where people can't or don't want to wear a covering. We didn't want to create an environment where everything has to be law. Scotland has a good record of following guidance.

There are layers of protection - one of the reasons for giving this advice was to reinforce the other more important advice.

You shouldn't be going out much and don't go into a crowded place if you can possibly avoid it. The vast majority of people won't need a face covering the vast majority of the time, because they are at home or they are out for essential reasons where safe, social distancing can be observed. We are not expecting to see everybody in the street with face coverings on.

A coronavirus outbreak at a care home in the Borders is affecting a "relatively small" number of residents and staff.

Scottish Borders Council said it was "working closely" with NHS Borders to manage the situation at the Saltgreens site in Eyemouth.

There are 34 residents at the home where the outbreak was confirmed late last week.

The local authority said it had no recorded cases of Covid-19 in other care homes in the region at present.

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Professor Jason Leitch, with the Scottish Government's national clinical director has been answering your questions on the advice given yesterday on the limited use of facial coverings.

Q: Does the virus spread in normal breath?

A: We are not sure. If you are symptomatic, the virus is in your fluids. Those droplets are spread on to other people or on to surfaces - and then they are ingested by somebody else and they get the virus.

There is a theoretical possibility that those droplets could come from breath but it's very difficult to imagine that going any distance at all.

Q: I have asthma and don't want to be challenged when I'm in a shop without a mask.

A: Asthma was not an exclusion, it was an example of those people who might not like the idea of wearing a covering, an obstruction to their breathing. You are completely at liberty to wear them or not. We certainly don't want shops to be enforcing it.

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Professor Jason Leitch, with the Scottish government's national clinical director has been answering your questions on the advice given yesterday on the limited use of facial coverings.

Q: Tradesmen are comfortable wearing masks, so does this mean they can get back to work?

A: That's not what this specific guidance is for but I think outdoor construction will be one of the first areas we will consider when we are advising politicians on the future easing of lockdown measures.

Q: We don't wash our hands at 60C, so why is that the recommended temperature for the face covering?

A: We are being precautionary. That's a regular temperature for cotton and it certainly won't do any harm. Remember, wash it after every use.