Coronavirus in Scotland - 'Very likely' lockdown will be extended

Summary

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tells her daily briefing it is "very likely" lockdown will be extended beyond this week
Ms Sturgeon outlines strategy for coming out of lockdown "as soon as the evidence tells us it is safe"
The first minister says she will set out assessment of current levels of infection on Tuesday
Ms Sturgeon says the next phase will be the "test, trace, isolate" (TTI) approach
TTI is all about "breaking the chain of transmission of the virus but without all of us being confined to our homes"
Ms Sturgeon said moves were being made to deliver a TTI strategy by the end of May, with testing capacity expected to have to rise to 15,500 per day

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

UK minister defends UK government over pandemic responsepublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
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Cafe owner's fears over business support grant rejectionpublished at 10:08 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
An Aberdeen cafe owner has said she feels "frustrated and alone" after her application for a business support grant was rejected.
Aberdeen Market is closed during lockdown, and last week plans were also approved to demolish the building to make way for a new development.
Katie Kardosova, who runs Combo, has not qualified for financial support.
Trust key when people return to workpublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland
Dr Bridget Hanna, a lecturer in work psychology at Edinburgh Napier University, says trust will be important as thoughts turn towards returning to work.
She explains people will need to trust their employers will put the right health and safety measures in place, while there will also need to be trust in government advice and action.
Call for council tax to be waived on empty flatspublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Angie Brown
Edinburgh and East reporter
Edinburgh landlords are calling on council officials to waive council tax on properties which are lying empty due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Landlords are unable to conduct viewings of their flats to prospective tenants during the restrictions.
Currently they only receive a 10% discount if the flat is empty.
John Davidson, 40, lost both his tenants at his two flats in Edinburgh's Dalry and Stockbridge when the lockdown was announced.
He said: "Normally they are really easy to rent out but I'm not allowed to do viewings just now so I've been left picking up the bills.
"I'm desperate to rent them out.
“You would think that while we are all in this together the council tax would be waived on empty flats."
Image source, Google
MSP responds to Skye care home coronavirus outbreakpublished at 09:55 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
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Virtual hearings for Children's Panelspublished at 09:51 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Image source, Getty Images
Children's Panel hearings have moved online so the proceedings can continue during the lockdown.
From Monday, urgent hearings will be held using secure video technology.
The move means measures to protect children, which often have time limits, do not lapse. "Non-essential" hearings are being rescheduled for after the lockdown.
Here's the UK daily update...published at 09:47 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
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Construction sector hoping for exit timeline shortlypublished at 09:37 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty Images
Gordon Nelson from the Federation of Master Builders' says the construction sector is looking for a timeline for going back to work in the next 2-3 weeks.
Mr Nelson says he expects some information from the Scottish government this week, as many small firms are beginning to face serious financial problems.
He suggests various public health measures can be put in place, such as only one trade attend construction sites each day.
All but essential construction sites in Scotland have been closed for more than five weeks since the coronavirus restrictions were introduced.
From this week, three of the UK's biggest housebuilders will reopen their sites in England.
Monday motivation with BBC Bitesizepublished at 09:26 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
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Bailing out big companies doesn't help the workerspublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty Images
Former US cabinet secretary Robert Reich believes handing government money to big companies does not help the general workforce.
The expert, now Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, told the Good Morning Scotland programme the big companies don't need help because they are used to reinventing their financial set-ups.
Quote Message
Big companies won't go under. It's the small businesses that are at risk. Any places there is a lot of discretionary income not being spent. Those businesses may never return. The CEOs continue to do wonderfully well, the big investors do well, and the stock markets will recover. It is the average workers and the poor on whom the burden falls disproportionately. And helping big companies doesn't change that.
Robert Reich, Former Secretary of Labor for Bill Clinton
Coming up...are you ready to get back to work and if so how?published at 09:06 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Protective screens are among alternatives to social distancing suggested in a draft document
Mornings with Kaye Adams is underway, today's phone-in looks at how the country may get back to work.
Reduced hot-desking and alternatives to social distancing where it is not possible are among measures being considered by the UK government to let workplaces reopen.
Get in touch by texting 80295 or calling 08085 92 95 00
Also on the show today...
- Ramadan during lock down
- Gardening during the covid crisis
- and energy bills, fruit picking and holiday refunds are all looked at
'Tests are there for those who require them'published at 08:56 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty Images
Baroness Goldie says the failure of the UK government to meet the 100,000 tests-a-day target in the past two days is down to a "difference in the pattern" of tests at weekends.
She says the ramp-up in testing capacity from early April has been dramatically progressed.
Quote Message
The capacity is there. What is encouraging is because of these mobile units we have got them to where they need to be. The capacity is there for the people who seek a test can have a test. Is there enough capacity for testing? Yes there is - thanks to the UK and Scottish government and the military.
Baroness Annabel Goldie, Defence Minister
'Not time to relax the restrictions'published at 08:50 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Defence Minister, Baroness Annabel Goldie says the peak of the Uk's coronavirus pandemic has passed, but that is not a sign we can relax the restrictions.
She says people have been very cooperative and compliant during the lockdown but we are "not in any safe spot yet".
She says that the biggest threat is relaxing the restrictions too soon, causing a second peak.
Quote Message
The lockdown achieved what the government wanted it to achieve. Any death is a matter of regret and the death toll is a matter of deep sorrow for all of us. It was difficult for experts to predict the pattern of infection.
Baroness Annabel Goldie, Defence Minister
'Our industry will change forever'published at 08:44 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Andrew Black
BBC Scotland Business Presenter
The UK government's looking at plans to relax Coronavirus lockdown restrictions. In the meantime, smaller businesses have to adapt to survive - including those in the food industry.
Sutherland-based Loch Duart Salmon usually sells to high-end restaurants, but is now having to target independent retailers like fishmongers, to keep the cash coming in.
Co-founder Andy Bing tells the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "These are scary times, but there are new opportunities. The concept of restaurant-quality food at home is catching on."
The producer, based in Scourie, also has to make sure staff can maintain social distancing on boats and fish farm walkways, in some of the most remote parts of the country.
Mr Bing also said distribution in his industry would probably change "forever", and added : "There's going to be less of the whole gutted fish sold and far more fillets and the packs."
Image source, Loch Duart
Quote Message
"We feel really sorry for the food service businesses which are normally our customers, and have made us what we are .
Andy Bing, Loch Duart Salmon
Skye's virus outbreak 'Came as a shock'published at 08:30 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
The island of Skye recorded its first confirmed cases of Coronavirus after a major outbreak in a care home last week.
NHS Highland has not confirmed the exact number of people affected but it has been reported more than 50 residents and staff at the Home Farm independent care home in Portree have tested positive.
The island's MSP, Kate Forbes, told Good Morning Scotland a mobile testing unit has been moved to the island.
Quote Message
When it comes so close to home it's a shock. But there has been a very swift reaction - testing residents and staff and contacting those in their households to ensure they self isolate. As soon as anybody demonstrated symptoms everyone was tested as a matter of urgency. There is mass testing in place on Skye to ensure there is no risk of further transmission of the virus.
Kate Forbes, Finance Secretary
Warning over video call safetypublished at 08:20 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty
Police Scotland is looking into a number of instances of what's being called "Zoombombing" - or unwanted intrusions into people's video calls during lockdown.
The practice has come to light as more than 300 million people have started using video calling apps since the lockdown began.
The NSPCC has warned that children are being put at risk of being groomed during unsecured video chats.
Quote Message
There are a number of platforms and most people use them safely but there have been some issues. There's potential for child sexual exploitation and exchange of sexual images and we want to make sure that doesn't continue. We will pursue these crimes doggedly and we have experts who do this work so we will pursue them.
Supt Tim Ross, Police Scotland
How will TV shows continue?published at 08:03 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, ABC
Scottish actor Kevin McKidd tells Good Morning Scotland he was in the middle of filming an episode of hit TV drama Grey's Anatomy when the lockdown hit.
He said a taskforce has been set up in the US, led by filmmaker Steven Soderberg to find ways of starting up filming of all our favourite programmes going.
Quote Message
There are about 150 people packed onto a soundstage to make these shows so there is going to have to be a massive shift in practice.
Kevin McKidd, Actor
Scotland's papers: International 'mission' to develop Covid-19 vaccinepublished at 07:55 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Today's newspapers focus on efforts to develop an effective vaccine to curb SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19.
Read more here.
Dr Hunt prescribes some musical aidpublished at 07:43 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty
Trainspotting and Grey's Anatomy actor Kevin McKidd has recorded a song to raise money for the Trussell Trust in the UK.
The Scottish actor got together about 30 musicians between Scotland, Ireland and Los Angeles and they recorded the song from their homes.
Quote Message
It seemed like the perfect fit. There are so many people for whom the pressing thing is getting food on the table, It seemed like the right thing to do. The song is called Leave The Light On. In the theatre world there's superstition that if the theatre goes dark and there is no show they always leave a light on as a promise that at some point in the future people will come back and there will be community and reverie and joy.
Kevin McKidd, Actor
Edinburgh company says it has 'fast and accurate' test kitpublished at 07:34 British Summer Time 4 May 2020
Image source, Getty Images
A new "fast and accurate" coronavirus antibody test has been developed by scientists in Edinburgh, although the company fears the NHS could miss out amid interest in Europe for the machines.
Researchers for blood-screening company Quotient have developed a new test for whether people are immune to Covid-19 by spotting whether a person has developed antibodies to the disease.
The firm said each serological screening machine has capacity for up to 3,000 tests a day and produces results in 35 minutes with 99.8% accuracy. The company behind the new tests says it has 12 screening machines available, with a further 20 expected to be ready by the end of the year.