Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, bbc

The admission by England's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, that "things would have been done differently" if the capacity for Covid-19 testing had been ramped up earlier has left public health expert Linda Bauld feeling "despondent".

The professor at Edinburgh University tells BBC Radio Scotland that: "A number of us in public health have been saying this for months and colleagues who are more expert in this were saying it long before that."

But the UK moved away from community tests and contact tracing on 12 March.

"We went into this with no infrastructure or a very modest infrastructure to test and we started to ramp that up far too slowly - we are seeing people admitting that," Prof Bauld says. "Crucially, what she said today was that we stopped testing in mid-March because the system was not ready."

We should be hearing from the UK government in the next 30 minutes, and we'll bring you the most important updates from the briefing then.

In the meantime, here's the latest from around the UK:

• Virgin Atlantic has announced it is to cut about 3,000 jobs in the UK and end its operation at Gatwick airport, amid the pandemic
• The UK’s chief scientific adviser has told MPs it would have been “beneficial” to have ramped up Covid-19 testing sooner
• The Scottish government has set out options for lifting the coronavirus lockdown
• Scientists advising the UK government have published some of their advice – with the documents suggesting there were fears about people buying fake test results if "immunity passports" were introduced
• And, as we heard in yesterday’s briefing, an NHS app that aims to track the spread of coronavirus is being rolled out for the first time, as part of a trial on the Isle of Wight

Reporting Scotland

Image source, bbc

The first minister will be interviewed live on Reporting Scotland this evening, you can watch the programme live with us here.

The interview comes on the day Nicola Sturgeon set out options for lifting the coronavirus lockdown - but has warned "extreme caution" will have to be exercised.

Robert Cuffe
BBC head of statistics

Is 32,000 the worst death toll in Europe?

We don’t have the information to know. There are different ways of counting coronavirus deaths.

The figure of 32,000 comes from a measure that’s calculated once a week in the UK and isn’t available yet in many other countries.

It’s based on all death registrations in all settings and looking to see whether Covid-19 is mentioned.

The figure you hear about most days, announced at the UK government’s daily press conference or available on the comparison websites, is based on deaths of people who have tested positive for coronavirus.

It’s available more quickly but is less complete.

It’s difficult enough to make comparisons between countries based on these daily figures – definitions are slightly different, testing regimes are different and so it’s hard to be sure you’re comparing apples with apples.

For example, if testing is largely limited to people in hospitals in one country (as it was in the UK for a long time), then the figures will miss deaths in the community.

But going one step further and comparing the death registration figures in the UK with daily figures based on positive tests from other countries is comparing apples with bananas.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government has set out options for lifting the coronavirus lockdown - but has warned that "extreme caution" will have to be exercised.

Strict social distancing restrictions are due to be reviewed on Thursday, but significant changes are unlikely.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a paper on the options, external which are being considered, including relaxing rules on daily exercise and meeting people.

It also suggests ways that schools could eventually start to reopen.

This could include some year groups returning ahead of others, pupils attending school part-time, and a combination of in-school and home learning.

The new paper warns that re-opening primary schools and nurseries fully at this point would likely see a new spike in infections which would overwhelm the NHS within two months.

• Read more here
• Reopening schools 'could overwhelm NHS'

Here's where to find the latest advice in Scotland...

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

Scottish government advice on how to improve our mental health at this difficult time.

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

The Scottish government advises face coverings should be used in supermarkets and on public transport.

8. Helpline for those at high risk of coronavirus: 0800 111 4000: 9am to 5pm

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland

Scottish Premiership clubs will discuss a proposal for a 14-14-16 model of league reconstruction later this week.

The panel assessing restructuring as a result of Covid-19 lockdown has been working on the expanded leagues idea as one of a number of potential options.

A 14-14-16 set-up would expand the top tier by two and invite Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League winners Kelty Hearts into the new set-up.

That would expand the 42 senior clubs to 44 and reduce the number of divisions from four to two.

The 15-strong reconstruction group met on Monday and the 14-14-16 option, which will only be put to a vote of the 42 clubs if it is clear it has enough support, will be discussed by top-flight clubs on Thursday.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Drivetime with John Beattie, which is just about to start on BBC Radio Scotland, has learned that 10 residents have died from Covid-19 at a care home in Bearsden owned by HC One - the company at the centre of the mass outbreak on the Isle of Skye.

John Beattie has been speaking to its chief executive, Sir David Behan.

The programme will also be discussing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's announcement today that allowing more exercise, some socialising and a return to work or school for some is being considered for the end of May.

At the moment, though, travel is supposed to be restricted to essential journeys, but does that include going for a drive-through coffee? The first minister doesn't think so.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

That concludes the Covid-19 finance statement from Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.

If you wish to follow the Stage 1 debate on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill, please watch with Scottish Parliament TV, external.

Businesses in Aberdeen city centre are being invited to apply for free trials of electric cargo bikes.

The North East Transport Scotland Transport Partnership (Nestrans) has made half a dozen available for trials of up to a year. It could be for deliveries of items such as food, prescriptions and flowers.

The trials will allow organisations to test the benefit to their business but, going forward, also assess the potential for improved air quality and reduced congestion.

More information and application guidance are available at www.nestrans.org.uk/biketrial, external

Researchers are to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to try to fast-track a test to allow mass screening for Covid-19.

The University of Aberdeen team will work with Vertebrate Antibodies in a bid to identify the specific elements of the virus that trigger the body’s defence systems.

It is hoped the approach could allow the development of a more sensitive test and ultimately allow targeted vaccination programs.

Prof Mirela Delibegovic, the lead investigator, said: "We hope to create a test that can quickly and effectively identify Covid-19 in individuals.”

The six-month £140,000 project has been part-funded by the Scottish government.

Image source, University of Aberdeen

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes confirms there will be an early summer budget revision in light of Covid-19 spending commitments. She is to provide detail of this later this month.

Going on to detail the various funds available, Ms Forbes confirms:

• £526m has been paid in grants to businesses
• £182m of the community fund has been allocated

However, she warns of the "inherent uncertainties" in the fiscal framework between the Scottish and UK governments, particularly given the lack of ability to borrow.

We need enhanced taxation and other powers if we are to consider other measures like a universal basic income, the finance secretary adds.

Image source, Scottish Borders Council

The local authority in Dumfries and Galloway said rubble, furniture, garden waste and oil drums had been found dumped during lockdown.

It is continuing to make weekly household waste collections and urged the public to use those.

In the neighbouring Scottish Borders the council said it had not seen any noticeable increase in fly-tipping.

It stressed the decision to close the region's recycling centres was under "constant review" and had been made in line with government guidance.

Steven Godden
BBC Scotland

About 80% of tourist attractions in Scotland are worried they could go out of business within a year, according to the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions.

The Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick has launched an appeal to raise £200,000 pounds to avoid closure.

You can see a more on this on Reporting Scotland on BBC One Scotland at 1830.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes confirms the £155 million from Barnett consequentials will be given to councils. Individual councils are identifying what their cost pressures are and there is a variety of need, she adds.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson calls for the normal distribution model for council cash allocation to be used. He warns not do to so may lead to a "battle" within Cosla.

Ms Forbes insists the best approach is to listen to Cosla.

Morag Kinniburgh
BBC Scotland

Image source, Google

Thousands of Edinburgh University staff have been warned their salaries could be frozen to save up to £150m because of the Covid-19 crisis.

Senior staff will take a pay cut in the next academic year and the principal, Prof Peter Mathieson, has warned the financial shock will last four to five years.

Prof Mathieson previously said the university had gone into lockdown in a “very robust position”.

But he has now emailed staff saying they expect to face a significant drop in income for years.

He said the loss of income from international students and from conference and accommodation operations means they will need to reduce all costs.

Non-essential building work has already been suspended, and some staff are being furloughed.