Summary

  • The first minister says that a fall in the rate of deaths linked to coronavirus in Scotland last week gives "some hope"

  • But Nicola Sturgeon says the progress is "still too fragile to immediately ease restrictions in any meaningful way"

  • National Records of Scotland data says there were 523 deaths between 27 April and 3 May, down 135 on the previous week

  • A total of 2,795 people have now died with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus in Scotland

  • The Scottish government's strategy for tackling coronavirus came under scrutiny at First Minister's Questions

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. Could better protecting the vulnerable allow restrictions to be lifted?

    Mornings with Kaye Adams
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology, suggests greater protections need to be put in place for vulnerable people.

    At the moment everyone is bearing the brunt psychologically, economically and health-wise (in terms of the knock on effect of service changes), he says.

    Prof Woolhouse suggests testing would be a key element to this to ensure the families and carers of vulnerable people are virus and symptom free.

    We are learning more about who the most at-risk people are and shielding them would give more "wiggle room" for the rest of the population, he says.

  2. New Hibs home shirt pays tribute to the NHS

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  3. Education secretary to be grilled over school reopening plans and future exams

    John Swinney

    John Swinney will face questions from members of Holyrood's education committee about the arrangements for students while schools are closed and the plans being made to help them reopen.

    The Scottish government says it's looking at a phased approach to returning pupils to school, when it is safe to do so.

    It could see some pupils return earlier than others.

    The education secretary is also likely to be asked about the possibility of cancelling next year's exam diet - something the SSTA union has urged.

    You can watch the virtual evidence session with the education secretary here with us on this live page, just click on the play icon on the Scottish Parliament: Covid-19 Business at the top.

    Here are the committee papers.

  4. MPs consider impact of Covid-19 on aviation

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  5. Ask the experts: Why are people still being infected during lockdown?

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    supermarket shoppers with masksGetty Images

    Global Public Health expert Dr Poppy Lamberton is not surprised infection rates are still high and says it is likely there are more people infected than we know.

    She adds that there are also the people who never develop symptoms but may have it and transmit it.

    There are a lot of people even if they are adhering to lockdown, they are going out for daily exercise. You have to go to shops and people will be touching produce and trollies and going on public transport, so it will spread. It's likely it is just transmitting in new scenarios and that is why the test and trace is now very important.

    Dr Poppy Lamberton, Global Public Health expert, University of Glasgow

  6. First Minister on care home providers

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  7. Coronavirus: What's coming up today?

    Chap delivering groceriesGetty Images

    Here’s the political agenda in terms of the response to the coronavirus pandemic:

    • 10am: Education Committee Covid-19 virtual evidence session with Education Secretary John Swinney
    • 12pm: NRS weekly statistics are published, including deaths where Covid-19 was only suspected
    • 12pm: PMQs: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer for the first time and it’s the prime minister’s first taste of a virtual PMQs
    • 12.30pm: FMQs: Nicola Sturgeon will make a statement before taking questions from opposition party leaders and backbench MSPs
    • 5pm: UK government coronavirus briefing

  8. Staff wage scheme extension 'required'

    Andrew Black
    BBC Scotland Business Presenter

    Food and drink businesses are increasingly asking the UK government to extend the scheme which pays 80% of the wages of staff unable to work during the lockdown.

    The furlough scheme is due to finish at the end of June - but the owner of one Edinburgh brewery thinks it could be at least autumn before things get back to normal.

    Bellfield Brewery managing director Alistair Brown said they have gone from selling beer to 600 UK bars before the crisis, to a 90% drop in revenue.

    He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme a move into online selling was doing well, but only made up for a quarter of the revenue the brewery normally saw at this time of year.

    There's no indication bars and restaurants will be open by June or July. I think some form of extension of that furlough scheme is going to be required beyond the end of June.

    Alistair Brown, Bellfield Brewery

  9. Wednesday's lesson plan on BBC Bitesize

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  10. What impact has lockdown had on climate change?

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  11. Covid-19: Scotland is at a 'critical moment'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    The first minister said the public response to the lockdown has been "absolutely magnificent".

    But Nicola Sturgeon told Good Morning Scotland she can understand why some people are getting frustrated with the restrictions.

    She stressed the need for continued compliance as the country is at a "critical moment" in the bid to suppress the virus.

    Most of the people that contact me are saying 'please don't lift this prematurely and risk a resurgence' as opposed to people saying 'we are so fed up of this we are going to start doing what we like'

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  12. How do you implement social distancing on buses?

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  13. What are your ideas for easing the lockdown restrictions?

    Mornings with Kaye Adams
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Glasgow EnduresGetty Images

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is looking for your ideas on how to come out of lockdown.

    She published a range of options yesterday but wants the public to get involved .

    Let Kaye know on this morning's PHONE-IN: 0808 5 92 95 00

    The programme will also take calls on all the various government support schemes on offer and the furlough scheme.

    Call or text 80925 Also get her thoughts on reports that the furlough scheme might be pared back

    And Kaye will speak to the father and son bringing together musicians from all over the world to play Tunes In The Hoose.

  14. Private care homes have a responsibility to look after residents and staff

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    care home

    Nicola Sturgeon says the Scottish government continues to help those care homes who are struggling with PPE supplies.

    She says anybody who thinks the guidance she is giving nationally is not being implemented locally - whether it is care home testing or PPE - should let her know.

    This is not a criticism but a fact, care home providers - it is part of their obligation as a business to keep their staff and residents safe. The Scottish government has been helping them with that. Normally they would source their own PPE and they are still doing that but over and above that we have been making PPE available on a top-up basis. We are already providing help in lots of different ways and we will continue to do that.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  15. FM keen to find 'a better balance' for lockdown

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    EdinburghGetty

    Nicola Sturgeon said enabling people to do more outdoors was likely to be one of the first lockdown restrictions to be eased.

    I am as anxious as anybody to get us to a position where we are not living with the very severe restrictions that we are right now. I have been very open that some of these restrictions, around social distancing, are likely to be in place for a lot longer, but I want us to get to a better balance as quickly as possible.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  16. Should testing have been ramped up earlier? 'Not a day goes by when I don't question what we are doing'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    coronavirus signGetty Images

    The First Minister was asked if testing should have been ramped up earlier and says hindsight is always a good thing to have.

    As first minister there is not a day goes by that we don't think about what we are doing, look back at what we are doing and making sure we are learning as we go. Dealing with a pandemic, the main thing is taking the best decisions for the future in the best way possible as we go and at some point we will reach the stage when we look back and see that lessons are learned for the future.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  17. Nicola Sturgeon says Scottish government continues to develop own app to trace coronavirus cases in Scotland

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    The first minister cautioned against relaying on the UK government's app, which is currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight.

    Nicola Sturgeon said plans were pushing ahead in Scotland to put in a place a more "traditional" system of contact tracing to measure the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

    She said she was waiting to see if the UK government app would be a "useful enhancement" to the Scottish system.

    She told Radio Scotland that "whether we like it or not people are concerned about privacy and how their data is used". She added the UK government app would only be effective if around 60% of the population used it.

    appNHS

    We shouldn't build the whole system around that because we have to be sure that the public are prepared to use it in sufficient numbers, but if it works, then it will be a useful enhancement.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First minister

  18. Testing will enable the 'easing of lockdown'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    testingGetty Images

    The first minister said Scotland has been "ramping up" testing since the outset of the crisis.

    Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Good Morning Scotland the system initially focused on those who were ill, key workers and surveillance.

    And she said it has gone from having the capacity to carry out 350 tests a day to "several thousand".

    Increasingly, we are looking ahead to a test, trace, isolate strategy that will be part of the approach we take to easing and coming out of lockdown

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  19. 'There is no death toll that is acceptable'.

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Nicola SturgeonGetty

    Nicola Sturgeon cautions over comparing international rankings on deaths and says all countries don't measure in the same way.

    She says experts say excess mortality should be the measure used to compare countries.

    No country is through this pandemic yet so I don't think any country will at this stage be declaring success. We potentially have a long way to go and the focus of the Scottish government is taking the steps that make sure we keep to the lowest number possible the people who lose their lives.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  20. Why is the infection rate in Scotland above the UK?

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Nicola SturgeonGetty Images

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was asked on Radio Scotland why Scotland's Covid-19 infection rate appears to be above the UK rate.

    It will simply be that we are at a slightly earlier stage on the infection curve. If you think back to the start of this epidemic, Scotland's first confirmed case came later than the first confirmed case in England. So we are a bit behind the curve.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister