Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon has exceeded her target for testing capacity in Scotland. But just over half of that total capacity in Scotland is being used.

So, the Scottish government is now expanding eligibility for testing to try to use more of the tests that are available. This brings us closer to the situation in England which earlier this week announced a large expansion in people eligible for testing.

There are some differences. Unlike in England, Scottish care workers will not be eligible unless they have symptoms or work in a care home - or a care home group - which has a coronavirus case. However, some “sampling testing” will still be done in homes which are believed to be free of the virus.

Ministers also want to keep expanding capacity as they develop plans for a test, trace, isolate strategy for when lockdown measures start to be lifted.

Scotland as a whole can now contribute a population share of the UK wide target of 100,000 tests per day. How it uses those tests will be crucial in the next stage of battling the epidemic.

Image source, Royal Hospital for Sick Children

The opening of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Young People in Edinburgh could be delayed further because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The new site was expected to open in July last year, but concerns over ventilation issues just days before patients were due to be moved in led to delays.

Health secretary Jeanne Freeman says revised plans to open the hospital this autumn are now under review.

Image source, Icelandic Orca Project/Olga Filatova

Like many other conservation projects, the coronavirus pandemic has hampered research of Scotland's large marine mammals.

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin (HWDT) research expeditions have been cancelled and the Mull-based charity expects the longest gap in its monitoring work since it began the programme 17 years ago.

A smaller number of sightings than usual of whale and dolphins are still being reported by volunteers who live in coastal areas. Reports have also been submitted by people still able to work at sea.

HWDT said people should only report sightings if they are able to do so within government guidelines.

The Icelandic Orca Project said its work monitoring orcas that move between Iceland and Scotland had also been disrupted.

Image source, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

A senior Scottish Fire and Rescue Service officer and his wife have volunteered to prepare meals for their local community during the Covid-19 crisis.

David and Jennifer Girrity are part of the Eyemouth Responders Team in the Scottish Borders.

Food is donated to the local project and volunteers then cook a batch of meals, which are delivered to the elderly and vulnerable.

Group Commander David says: "It's a bit like Ready Steady Cook. Jennifer and I go to the local community centre to wait for the day's delivery of food before deciding what meals to make.

"We've made corn beef hash, macaroni cheese, chilli and fish pie, but we also try to provide desserts too and we've made banana muffins with custard and apple crumble.

"It's a real team effort. There are also volunteers who are cleaning up and others who deliver the food parcels along with medicine and other essential items."

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Paul O'Hare
BBC Scotland News

Image source, Getty Images

After almost 700 negative tests, Scotland's first positive case of coronavirus was officially confirmed on 1 March.

A Scottish government press release, sent out shortly before 19:30, announced the patient had recently travelled home to the Tayside area from northern Italy.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the country was "well prepared for a significant outbreak" but few could have imagined what lay ahead over the next two months.

BBC Scotland looks back at 10 defining days since case number one.

Read more here.

Image source, MCA

Salvors have offloaded the last recoverable cargo material from a ship that ran aground on rocks between the isles of Skye and Lewis at the end of March.

The MV Kaami was carrying tonnes of pellets of fuel made from waste.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said weather conditions had delayed salvage work.

Repairs are being made to the cargo ship before an attempt is made to re-float it.

Image source, Getty Images

More than 76,000 people have now volunteered to help the coronavirus effort in Scotland.

Those who registered to help communities and public services are now being trained by local induction programmes.

Many have already started to deliver food parcels, and deliver medicines and essential items and others have started to engage with vulnerable people and phone those who need assistance or companionship.

The Scottish government says that within health and social care, offers of employment are being made across NHS Scotland with nearly 700 applicants ready to be deployed and more than 3,600 returners in the process of completing their pre-employment checks.

The Scotland Cares Campaign, which launched a month ago, resulted in:

• 35,077 sign-ups to Volunteer Scotland to support charities and community groups
• 18,640 sign-ups to the British Red Cross to support public services
• 23,029 health and social care workers returning to work, and students joining the service

Image source, Paul Campbell

With a joyless summer devoid of concerts and music festivals looming, it may almost feel appropriate to enter a period of mourning.

Perhaps you'll smear on some heavy eyeliner. You'll dig out The Cure T-shirt you purchased on impulse last year. And yes, you may even enjoy some Black Parade without irony.

But Scotland's industry professionals have urged music fans not to despair - they say that while the landscape looks very uncertain, live entertainment will inevitably return in some shape or form.

"Even during times of recession, sometimes it hits the entertainment industry last - because people need that release," says Jonathan Dawson, general manager at SWG3 in Glasgow.

Read more from BBC Scotland's Mary McCool here.

Image source, Olivia Strong

The creator of the Run for Heroes 5k challenge, which has now raised more than £5m for NHS charities, has been honoured by the prime minister.

Olivia Strong, 27, from Edinburgh, has been recognised with the Points of Light, external award which recognises "outstanding individual volunteers".

She initially set out to raise £5,000 by encouraging people to run 5k, donate £5 and then nominate five people to do the same.

But since it was launched more than a million people in 20 countries have taken part.

In a letter to Olivia, Mr Johnson said he had been "inspired by the ingenuity" of the challenge.

He added: "You have roused a global movement that has collectively run the entire distance to the moon and back!

“Thank you for your brilliant initiative and for all that you have done to support our wonderful NHS.”

Olivia said: “It’s an absolute pleasure and delight to accept this award on behalf of the whole Run For Heroes community.

"It’s been so wonderful to see people coming together for such a worthwhile cause.”

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.

• Nicola Sturgeon says testing for Covid-19 is to be expanded in Scotland.
• The first minister says more tests will be carried out in care homes.
• Eligibility for testing will also be extended to over-65s with symptoms and those in their household.
• Nicola Sturgeon announces a 40 further hospital deaths as a result of coronavirus in Scotland in the past 24 hours.
• The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Scotland now stands at 11,654
• The first minister adds she is wary about describing the outbreak as "past its peak" because of the "fragility" of the virus' decline. Her comments come after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the declaration on Thursday.

When asked by Mure Dickie from the Financial Times if she is happy with the way the four UK governments have worked together, or whether she would make any changes but has "been unable to do anything about it", the first minister is quick to respond.

Nicola Sturgeon says it is important that the governments work together. However, she said that if, hypothetically, she thought the UK government was easing the lockdown too early, she would be looking to do something different for Scotland.

She points out that she had introduced a restriction on mass gatherings and schools earlier than the UK government and this week she issued recommendations about face coverings a day before Mr Johnson.

Christine Lavelle from The Sun asks if Nicola Sturgeon believes that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's message was "too upbeat yesterday" and if it risks encouraging people to flout the lockdown.

The first minister replies that it is "important to say we are seeing progress here but it is fragile" and that the public must continue to comply with lockdown rules.

She repeats her view that she would be surprised if lockdown rules were eased after being reviewed next week but adds the "light at the end of the tunnel is there".

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Foster from Global asks about concerns expressed by Scottish Care that new residents are being admitted to care homes without being tested for Covid-19 beforehand.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says all new admissions should be tested - except when they have been discharged from hospital, which would require them to give two negative tests - and then placed in isolation for 14 days.

Ms Freeman says the "guidance is there, and its rationale is very clear", and she speaks to Scottish Care every week.

Image source, Getty Images

Alan Smith from Bauer asks that given the increase in testing capacity in Scotland, is the country any closer to routine testing and wonders if there is room for a greater role for universities to use their laboratory capacities?

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies that the Scottish government is continuing to explore with academic bodies and commercial organisations how testing capacity can be expanded further.

Deputy chief medical officer Gregor Smith is not a fan of the idea of "routine testing" as it is invasive process and it needs to be done with clinical justification.

Tim Backshall from ITV Border asks about more access to testing in rural parts of Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon says that is already happening as part of the NHS network in Scotland and as part of the UK-wide system, with mobile-testing units starting to operate with the assistance of the Army.

Image source, Getty Images

Kaye Nicolson, from STV, asks why it has taken so long to expand the testing capacity in Scotland and also whether or not the tests are reliable.

The first minister points out that, at the start of the outbreak, Scotland had two NHS labs capable of carrying out testing but now has 14 and that the expansion of testing is continuing.

Deputy chief medical officer Gregor Smith adds that, in the past 24 hours, he has received published data that shows "the test is 100% specific to the virus that causes Covid-19" and that it is 91% sensitive to that virus, which he suggests are "very high figures for this type of test".

The health secretary stresses that the antibody testing programme starting next week, which will provide “statistically robust estimates of the share of the population that has developed antibodies", is "only at a population level”.

Jeane Freeman also pays tribute to staff who have been working hard to "operationalise" the tests as soon as they were validated.