Image source, bbc

Boris Johnson is leading the UK government daily briefing – his first time at a press conference since his return to work after having coronavirus, and a day after he became a father again.

The prime minister will be joined by chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance.

You can watch the UK briefing here with live updates.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Professor Johan Giesecke, a leading epidemiologist and advisor to the Swedish government, has said the UK should lift its lockdown.

He expects the death rate in Sweden and the UK will be broadly similar by the end of the crisis, despite the Swedish government not taking such strict measures.

Prof Giesecke suggested the decision was entirely political and allowed politicians to show they were "doing something".

He added: "The people who did not die during lockdown will die when you lift the lockdown."

But he accepted the UK would now have to come out of lockdown gradually, probably over a period of months.

Image source, Getty Images

It is "too early" to start lifting coronavirus lockdown restrictions "in any meaningful way", Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The next review of strict social distancing rules is due on 7 May.

But the Scottish first minister said the margins for making any changes were still "very, very tight".

Ministers are considering ways of gradually lifting the lockdown, but Ms Sturgeon warned that it "is not going to be a flick of the switch moment".

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

We should be hearing from the UK government in the next 30 minutes but let’s take a look at the latest from the country first:

• Boris Johnson has held his first cabinet meeting since returning to work after recovering from coronavirus - he'll lead the briefing
• A senior minister has admitted it is “probable” the UK government will miss today’s target of carrying out 100,000 tests a day
• The Scottish government will provide a substantial update on testing here tomorrow
• Nicola Sturgeon says 'it's too early' to start lifting coronavirus restrictions 'in any meaningful way'
• The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies - which advises the UK government on its approach to tackling the virus - has been meeting to discuss ongoing lockdown measures
• Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has agreed to manufacture and distribute a coronavirus vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford if it proves effective

• Captain Tom Moore has celebrated his 100th birthday with an RAF flyover after raising more than £30m for National Health Service charities

Lorna Gordon
BBC News Scotland correspondent

"You have flashbacks at the end of the day, you dream about it at night...you can't escape it."

These are the powerful words of one doctor who stares death in the face every single day he fights to save patients from the relentless surge of coronavirus.

As patient after patient struggles to get through the virus, staff keep going as best they can, dealing with unprecedented numbers of critically-ill people.

And almost all say they were not emotionally or psychologically prepared for the experience.

Read more here.

Image source, Colin Gillespie

Thursday means it is time to show appreciation for those bravely putting themselves at risk to care for Covid-19 patients.

At 20:00 the whole of the UK will stop and applaud health and care workers at their windows, in their doorways or gardens.

The first minister said in her daily briefing she would be joining them and it is a "very special and precious" moment of the week.

Taylor Gillespie from East Kilbride has prepared her own tribute ahead of the sixth clap for carers.

The first minister urges people to stick to travel restrictions to keep lockdown working.

• FM says next week may be too early for any easing of restrictions in “any meaningful way”
• £100m of business support opens for applications
• a further 60 deaths takes the total number of deaths from the daily figure calculation to 1,475
• there is now a total of 11,353 Covid 19 cases

• Scotland's R Number (reproduction number) is below one - but progress is 'fragile'
• £100m of business support will be open for applications from 2pm
• The FM warns of increasing travel on roads and on concessionary travel
• £5m of funding is being provided to Scottish universities and research institutions for 55 coronavirus-related projects
• substantial update on testing in Scotland due tomorrow

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Radio Scotland's Drivetime gets underway shortly. On today's programme:

• an exclusive interview with the WHO's top health chief who will speak to John about face coverings and social distancing
• it's pay day for many - but problems are still being felt by the self-employed
• and Sweden has controversially not gone into lockdown - but it's death rate remains lower per head than that of the UK. Is lockdown the right policy? John will speak to a scientist who doesn't think so

Fundraiser Margaret Payne, 90, has sent a happy birthday message to Capt Tom Moore, who has raised £31m for the NHS.

The war veteran, who has been made an honorary colonel on his 100th birthday, raised the money by walking laps of his garden.

Margaret was inspired by his actions and is in the process of climbing the equivalent of Highland mountain Suilven - 731m (2,398ft) - with 282 trips upstairs at her Sutherland home.

The great-grandmother expects to take two months to complete her challenge in aid of the NHS and Highland hospice.

The appeal by NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore topped £31m as he celebrated his 100th birthday.

The war veteran, who raised the money by walking laps of his garden, has also been made an honorary colonel.

The occasion was also marked with an RAF flypast and birthday greetings from the Queen and prime minister.

With celebrations under way, Capt Tom said everyone who donated was "magnificent" as the fund reached £30m on Thursday morning.

He said it was "extraordinary" to be turning 100, especially with "this many well-wishers".

Live updates: Captain Tom celebrates 100th birthday

Image source, SNS

Motherwell FC have confirmed that their players and the "vast majority" of staff are on furlough leave.

The government's Job Retention Scheme will pay 80% of their salaries up to a monthly sum of £2,500.

The Scottish Premiership club say that "makes a significant difference to our financial stability" but it is unclear if they will make up any shortfall.

Image source, Downing Street

Boris Johnson has chaired a cabinet meeting and will later lead the daily coronavirus briefing for the first time since his return to work.

It's expected around 5pm this evening.

No 10 said the PM, whose fiancee gave birth on Wednesday, will update the UK on the "fight against this disease and the steps we are taking to defeat it".

But political editor Laura Kuenssberg said he was unlikely to give "chapter and verse" on lifting the restrictions.

No 10 also faces the deadline for its target of 100,000 daily virus tests.

Read more here.