Summary

  • Daily reported death total for UK (29,427) is now higher than the total for Italy (29,315) - though there are caveats to the comparison

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says it is "highly unlikely" that there will be any significant changes to lockdown when it is reviewed on Thursday

  • Ms Sturgeon says her new paper sets out the progress and the possible next steps

  • The first minister estimates there are currently about 26,000 people with Covid-19 in Scotland

  • Ms Sturgeon says rates of transmission in Scotland may be slightly higher than elsewhere in the UK - although modelling is uncertain

  • New document shows studies suggesting reopening schools now would be likely to lead to surge in virus

  • Ms Sturgeon also says the paper looks at how they might relax the meeting of other people such as specific close family or friends

  • She also says she wants to look at how some businesses can be practically and safely allowed to reopen

  1. That's it for Tuesdaypublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Here are some of the main developments today

    • Nicola Sturgeon set out some of the options, external for lifting the lockdown but warned "extreme caution" will have to be exercised and it may not come soon
    • Schools may return in a phased way with pupils in exam years or transitioning from primary given priority
    • Officials are also considering whether people could be allowed to meet with "a small number of others" from outside their household.
    • The first minister said there was some evidence the infection rate was "slightly higher" in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
    • Responding to reports that public transport is filling up and queues have formed outside drive through coffee shops, Ms Sturgeon said we were at a critical phase urged people to "tighten up" their compliance.
    • A boss of Britain's biggest care home company has insisted it took proper measures to protect residents and staff at a Skye care home where 57 people have tested positive, three of whom have died.
    • The number of reported deaths across the UK now stands at 29,427 - higher than Italy, although there are caveats for a direct comparison

    We'll be back with more live coverage of the coronavirus crisis early on Wednesday.

  2. Rail trespassing on the rise since lockdownpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Paul O'Hare
    BBC Scotland News

    Rail trespassersImage source, Network Rail

    More than 70 trespassing incidents have been recorded on Scotland’s railways since the country’s schools closed due to Covid-19.

    Network Rail said one case, near Neilston, Renfrewshire, involved two adults and a child.

    Another featured a group of teenagers trespassing on the line near Coatdyke, Coatbridge.

    And trains near Hamilton West were delayed last week after three youths were spotted on the line.

    Network Rail, which has launched a new awareness campaign, external, said the problem has increased across the country since 20 March.

  3. 'We're looking at construction and retail - but the virus could run amok'published at 19:06 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Reporting Scotland

    FM

    The first minister highlighted that the reproduction rate of the coronavirus in Scotland was not at a low enough level to lift lockdown measures.

    She said she was not confident restrictions could be eased "without the virus running amok again".

    Ms Sturgeon said: "We know that it would not take much easing up for that progress to be halted."

    On the subject of whether construction firms in Scotland would get back to work in line with others across the UK, the first minister said she was looking construction as well as retail.

    However she said that any changes that occur too swiftly could result in damage that would be "deeper and even longer lasting".

  4. First minister's 'direct message' to businessespublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Nicola Sturgeon

    The first minister has delivered a "direct message" to businesses that guidelines are in place and should be followed amid concerns over members of the public queuing outside drive through coffee shops.

    Nicola Sturgeon told Reporting Scotland she worried the message to the public to stay at home may become "diluted" but that people should continue to "tighten up" on their compliance.

    An increasing number of businesses are opening on a takeaway capacity and there is evidence that more people are using public transport.

    Meanwhile the Scottish government has yet to set a date for the lifting of lockdown measures.

    Ms Sturgeon said: "I need people to abide by these decisions."

    She added she thought it was better to treat the public like adults rather than forcing them to comply.

  5. Scottish football facing 'existential crisis'published at 18:45 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Chris McLaughlin
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Scottish football clubs face a bigger financial threat from the Covid-19 lockdown than their counterparts in England, Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster warns.

    The heads of key governing bodies today met government ministers to discuss the resumption of sport across Scotland.

    The Scottish FA, SPFL, Scottish Rugby and others were invited to a virtual summit with sport minister Joe Fitzpatrick and national clinical director Jason Leitch.

    "We gave the minister a frank summary of the existential crisis our game is facing," Doncaster says. "Gate receipts make up a far higher proportion of our income than in England, which benefits from huge TV deals, so until we get back to playing in front of crowds, our game will remain in grave peril."

    Scottish football 'in grave peril'

    Scottish football will "remain in grave peril" until games resume in front of paying supporters, the SPFL warns.

    Read More
  6. 3,000 jobs axed at Virgin Atlanticpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

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  7. Could younger people move out of lockdown sooner?published at 18:31 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Food deliveryImage source, Getty Images

    Could "herd immunity" be back on the UK agenda as it moves out of lockdown?

    Some researchers from Edinburgh University are suggesting that younger and more healthy parts of the population could be allowed to mix freely while the more vulnerable remain shielded.

    Prof Paul McKeigue told BBC Radio Scotland that, if the country could build up the level of immunity in the younger and healthier population to about 80%, it would be safe for the more vulnerable to come out because there "would be very little risk of being infected".

    He says his research group is trying to construct a "risk classifier" that "could tell some people that they were at risk so low that it was perhaps less than being killed in a car accident in the next year

    Ohers, he suggests, could be told they are at high risk and they should remain isolated and thoroughly shielded.

    Prof McKeigue says such a plan would require more information on the infection mortality rate of Covid-19 - with some saying it is 1% and others arguing that it is much less.

  8. Nicola Sturgeon is on Reporting Scotland this eveningpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

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  9. Call for sector-by-sector coronavirus safety guidancepublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    General secretary designate Rozanne FoyerImage source, STUC

    The STUC has called for safety guidance to be published for each sector as the UK moves out of lockdown.

    General secretary designate Rozanne Foyer also said any workplace regulations must be enforceable, for example by environmental health officers or trade union safety reps.

    While the unions "absolutely support" the cautious approach being taken by the government, she said: "We would want to be sure that the proper capacity is in place for a full test, track and isolation policy to be up and running."

    Ms Foyer also called for a public transport strategy to ensure social distancing could be maintained.

  10. Can you compare death rates in UK and Italy?published at 17:58 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

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  11. Skye care home faced recruitment problemspublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    The Skye care home which has seen 57 cases of Covid-19, including three deaths of residents, has struggled with recruitment problems, its operator says.

    Sir David Behan, of HC One, says competition from tourism and other industries meant it had often been forced to rely on agency staff at Home Farm in Portree.

    But he says he is "immensely proud" of the firm's staff in Scotland who are "turning up and doing their job on a daily basis".

    He tells Drivetime with John Beattie a big problem is that staff could be asymptomatic - and could have been passing on the virus.

    Quote Message

    The introduction of testing of both staff and residents is absolutely critical if we are to provide the appropriate management of residents and the appropriate protection of staff.

    Sir David Behan, Executive chairman, HC One

  12. 'Limited testing' behind high death tollpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Dr Poppy Lamberton, an expert in global public health, says "limited testing" in the UK is behind the high death toll.

    She also suggests the UK had a higher capacity for testing at the beginning which was not made use of due to tight guidelines.

    Dr Lamberton adds: "We really should focus on moving forwards, getting people tested, isolating if you have any symptoms and making sure you tell people if you've had symptoms so anyone you've had contact with also isolates even if they don't have symptoms."

  13. UK reports highest death toll in Europepublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

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  14. Care home boss says nothing to hide over Skye outbreakpublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Three residents have died, 27 others have tested positive for Covid-19 as well as 27 staff at Home Farm care home in Portree . Only four residents appear to be Covid-free.

    Sir David Behan, executive chairman of HC One, which runs the home, admits inspectors had reported some problems with cleaning and staffing in January - but he insists an action plan had been implemented.

    As the outbreak gathered pace, the firm secured PPE and put restrictions on visiting in more than 300 homes across the UK, he says.

    The former Care Quality Commission chief executive told John Beattie: "We're not looking to hide anything here, this is a matter of public interest."

    The main factor in the high number of care home deaths is the vulnerability of older people, he insists.

    Sir David BehanImage source, HC One
    Quote Message

    This is a virus which disproportionately affects older people. I don’t think the situation that we're finding is due to any questions about the quality of the staff.

    Sir David Behan

  15. Postpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

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  16. Ten deaths confirmed at Bearsden Care Homepublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    The executive chairman of Britain's biggest care home operator HC One says there have been 10 suspected Covid-19 deaths at Mugdock House in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire.

    Sir David Behan tells Drivetime with John Beattie that another nine residents were self-isolating. Three had recovered.

  17. UK tops death-toll table in Europepublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 5 May 2020
    Breaking

    Dominic RaabImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab leads the UK government briefing

    A further 693 coronavirus deaths have been recorded across the UK, taking the total to 29,427, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says.

    Until today, Italy had been the European country with the highest number of deaths - and the second in the world (after the US). But with 29,315 people to have lost their lives to coronavirus - compared to the UK's 29,427 - it has slipped into third place.

    Follow live updates here.

    • 'What we're seeing is an absolute tragedy'published at 17:06 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

      Drivetime with John Beattie
      BBC Radio Scotland

      Monica Lennon

      Scottish Labour's Monica Lennon has called for Covid-19 social care response plans to be published in light of the high number of cases in care homes.

      Ms Lennon also backed calls for an investigation into the Skye care home.

      She said: "We can't leave care home providers and staff to fend for themselves. What we're seeing is an absolute tragedy.

      "But my fear is that when we're going to look back and do the inquiries and do the investigations we're going to find that many of these deaths could have been prevented."

      A Scottish government statement said employers have a responsibility to ensure protections are in place, while testing of care home staff remains a priority.

    • Interview with care provider which owns Bearsden and Skye homespublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

      Drivetime with John Beattie
      BBC Radio Scotland

      Thirty of the 34 residents at Home Farm care home tested positive for Covid-19Image source, bbc
      Image caption,

      Thirty of the 34 residents at Home Farm care home tested positive for Covid-19

      Drivetime has learned that 10 residents of a care home in Bearsden outside Glasgow have died with COVID 19.

      The home is owned by HC One, the care provider at the centre of the outbreak at the home on Skye where 3 residents have died and another 57 members of staff and residents are infected.

      John Beattie has been speaking to HC One chairman Sir David Behan.

      Listen to the full interview after 5 o'clock

    • Restrictions 'will not be lifted any time soon'published at 16:56 British Summer Time 5 May 2020

      Drivetime with John Beattie
      BBC Radio Scotland

      First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's description of a gradual easing of the lockdown measures was "a sobering listen", according to public health expert Linda Bauld.

      "We're all desperately waiting for news about when things will be lifted and definitely today we found out it will be no time soon," the professor of public health at Edinburgh University tells BBC Radio Scotland.

      "We have been given signs of what things might change in the future, but I think what the government was trying to communicate is that the risks are still too high to see changes any time soon."

      Prof Bauld thinks the first change will be permitting people to do more outdoors, such as exercising more than once a day or talking to people outside the household as long as not coming into close contact with them.

      She thinks the next step will be the ability to visit other households and meet in small groups outdoors while also focusing on getting "the NHS back up and running" on treatments other than Covid-19.