The BBC has been granted exclusive access to University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, including the intensive care unit which has been at the centre of the struggle to save lives in the coronavirus pandemic.

Day and night in intensive care the lights blaze, the monitors beep and the machines buzz.

It is bright and it is noisy but for the patients this is the twilight world, a place where the darkness deepens.

No-one wants to be here, far less to return, but nor do they have a choice.

Read more from The Nine's James Cook here.

The yellow line represents Public Health Scotland daily figures while the purple is the National Records of Scotland weekly figures.

Unpaid carers are set to receive a one-off payment to recognise the additional pressure they are under due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish government is proposing the move, which would see an additional £19.2m investment in the Carer's Allowance Supplement.

If approved by MSPs about 83,000 eligible carers will be automatically paid an extra £230.10 in June.

The announcement has been welcomed by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Read more here.

House of Commons
Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HofC

PMQs has now come to an end, but what did we learn from the exchanges?

• Boris Johnson set a new target of 200,000 tests a day for coronavirus by the end of May after the government said it met its initial target of 100,000 daily by the end of April
• The PM confirmed he would make more announcements on the easing of lockdown on Sunday, with some changes coming into play on Monday
• Mr Johnson told Labour's Sir Keir Starmer people will not be asked to go back to work until a "robust plan" is in place for personal protective equipment (PPE), promising one is already underway
• The PM said it was too early for comparisons of the UK death toll to other countries, despite it passing Italy's total on Tuesday

Look back on PMQs here.

First minister's questions draws to a close.

MSPs will now move to consider Stage 3 proceedings of the Consumer Scotland Bill, if you want to watch that join Scottish Parliament TV, external from 3pm.

Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan highlights his constituency is the worst in Scotland in terms of deaths.

He calls for more community support for the area, for example an increase in food provision to ensure elderly and vulnerable people are not having to leave their homes for these essentials.

Nicola Sturgeon points to a range of support which has been given to the Inverclyde area, including through the welfare fund, hardship fund and food fund.

We will continue to look very carefully at this community and the human impact of coronavirus, she adds.

Image source, bbc

"Every single one of us is deeply, deeply concerned and moved by what's happening in our care homes," the first minister says in reply to Mr Findlay.

A visibly moved Nicola Sturgeon adds: "I don't think there is a single one of us who does not find this a deeply and profoundly upsetting situation.

"So please do not ask these questions in a way that suggests we are not all trying to do everything we possibly can to do the right thing."

She explains where a patient in hospital has the virus they must have two negative tests before they can be discharged.

A patient without the virus discharged to a care home must be tested 48 hours before discharge, she says, adding they must also be isolated for 14 days where the result is not known, she says.

The first minister says the government is doing the things they are advised to to best protect individuals.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says care homes are at the epicentre of the crisis with 59% of deaths there. He tells the first minister his mum is in one.

He asks why people are still being discharged from hospitals to care homes without establishing whether they have Covid-19 or not.

Mr Findlay pleads: "Please stop this practice now to save the lives of residents and the great people who look after them."

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar expresses concern that we are "storing up physical conditions and psychological trauma".

He raises the case of a constituent whose wife is in the "final stages" of cancer and has not been able to see her for 40 days. He is questioning why he is unable to see his wife in her final days.

Ms Sturgeon says guidance allows for end-of-life visiting of relatives and offers to provide clarity for the specific case.

She adds: "Please be assured that we are as focused on the unintended consequences of all of this as we are on suppressing the virus."

Fiona Walker
BBC Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

The first fall in weekly deaths is a significant moment.

It was expected. Over the past few weeks, fewer people have been going into hospital and needing intensive care. And it is more welcome evidence that the spread of the disease in the community has slowed.

However, today’s figures also bring into sharp focus the continuing bad news from care homes where this disease keeps claiming lives – so while the overall number of deaths fall, the proportion of deaths in this setting is continuing to rise.

It also helps to make sense of why the first minister is careful to talk about a “plateau” in the curve rather than “past the peak”.

We had been warned the numbers wouldn’t fall as quickly as they rose but the number of deaths remains stubbornly high. We are far from the end of this epidemic.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader highlights the concerns of those with non-urgent health conditions, such as those unable to receive regular B12 injections or those waiting for hip replacements.

"We are protecting people from the virus but they may be suffering in many other ways", Willie Rennie warns.

He asks about bringing these kinds of treatments and operations back early.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms that restoring non-emergency procedures on a phased basis is being looked at, with the aim to do “as quickly as we are able to”.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie seeks an update on rolling out a universal basic income, as well as a daily pay supplement for health and care workers.

Mr Rennie also calls for the furlough scheme to be kept for longer, with a taper to better protect jobs.

Ms Sturgeon says discussions with trade unions are ongoing regarding pay, while she reiterates her support for a basic income, before adding she cannot take a unilateral decision on it.

She offers to take a closer look at Mr Rennie's proposals on the furlough scheme, but adds she cannot take the decision herself. She agrees the withdrawing of the scheme must not leave a cliff edge.

Image source, NHS

The first minister attempts to clarify any confusion over what test and trace apps the public in Scotland will have - pointing out that there are two types of digital product:

1. A digital tool being developed in Scotland to support targeted contact tracing, led by public health teams. This will allow contact details to be added.
2. Then there is the UK-wide "proximity" app - Scottish government officials are seeing a presentation of it this morning, says the first minister. This will only be "an enhancement", she says, adding we must cater to those who won't use it.

The first minister also says the Scottish government is looking at support, for those people who might be homeless or don't have a spare room for example, to isolate.

"We have to provide as much support as we possibly can."