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People in lockdown are more worried about their mental wellbeing than their general health,an Office for National Statistics survey suggests., external

Just under two-thirds of 16- to 69-year-olds surveyed were most affected by boredom, stress and anxiety, and the inability to make plans.

And those aged over 70 were even less likely (6%) than the under-70s (13%) to say their health was being affected.

Most of the under-70s did worry about their loved ones' physical health.

• More on this story here.

Sarah Smith
Scotland Editor

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Nicola Sturgeon says she must extend the lockdown in Scotland to stop a resurgence of the virus.

Because the rate of infection (the now famous R number) is still at or around one in Scotland, possibly slighter higher than in other parts of the UK, she says any easing of the current restrictions would be "very very risky" indeed.

This may not be the same message we hear from Boris Johnson on Sunday.

That means we could soon see different parts of the UK operating under different lockdown rules.

• Read from Sarah Smith here
• 'Catastrophic mistake' to change lockdown message
• PM 'must show respect' to UK nations over lockdown

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A long-running free scheme to tackle issues with birds in Dumfries town centre is not currently able to operate.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said it was unable to safely remove eggs or nests while complying with social distancing guidelines.

It has, however, asked the public to continue reporting any problem areas.

The local authority said it would keep a log and start to tackle the issues once guidance allowed.

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Nicola Sturgeon has warned it could be "catastrophic" to drop the stay at home message as she announced that the lockdown is to be extended in Scotland.

It has been suggested that Boris Johnson could scrap the sloganas part of moves to ease some lockdown rules.

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government may be prepared to allow people to spend more time outdoors.

But she said scrapping the "clear, well understood" stay at home message was "a potentially catastrophic mistake".

Ms Sturgeon said she would prefer all four nations to make changes together because that would help give consistent messages to the public.

• Read more here
• PM 'must show respect' to UK nations over lockdown

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

The prime minister may announce an easing of lockdown restrictions in England on Sunday - but Nicola Sturgeon has warned it could be "catastrophic" to drop the stay at home message.

Might England and Scotland part company on guidance?

Also on the programme - Thursday means clapping for carers. But are attitudes on this changing?

Listen to BBC Drivetime on this live page or on BBC Radio Scotland.

Image source, CHRIS EDDINGTON

An "extremely rare" white squirrel has been spotted in Perth and Kinross.

The native red squirrel is thought to have a genetic condition called Leucism, which causes its white colouring and is different to albinism because it does not affect the eyes.

Despite being relatively common in grey squirrels, Leucism is less so in red squirrels.

Chris Eddington photographed the animal in his garden through his kitchen window, near Dunkeld.

Read more here.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

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Professor of Public Health Linda Baul has warned that it may emerge the longer-term impacts of the lockdown may prove worse than the virus itself.

The Edinburgh University academic told Holyrood's Covid-19 Committee we will need much more data and more rapidly available data as we come out of lockdown.

That will give us more confidence about what the R number is, she explained.

Professor Bauld said in terms of the lockdown it was important we soon allow people to go out more often and have contact with a small number of others not in their household.

She said “I think we should try to do that soon because of these other adverse consequences, not just on the NHS. In order for us to do that the data is going to be so crucial.”

Boris Johnson has told the cabinet the government will "advance with maximum caution" in considering any easing of the lockdown measures.

The prime minister said the UK government would not do anything that risks a second peak, and would be guided "at every step" by the science and data, according to Downing Street.

Image source, PA

He also said the government would closely track the impact of any easing of the social distancing measures, and would not hesitate to tighten the rules if required.

It is understood any easing of the guidelines next week will be very limited..

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has extended the lockdown in Scotland, warning it would be "very risky" to make changes too quickly.

Image source, PA Media

People have lined the streets of Campbeltown to pay their respects to a paramedic who died after contracting Covid-19.

Robert Black, who was in his 50s and from the Argyll town, worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service but died in hospital with coronavirus.

The funeral cortege passed through Campbeltown before Mr Black was laid to rest at nearby Kilkerran Cemetery.

Scottish Ambulance Service staff across the country held a minute's silence at midday in memory of their colleague.

The owner of Stansted and Manchester airports says passengers must cover their faces and wear gloves.

Just 0.5% of vulnerable children are attending school during lockdown despite the buildings staying open for them.

Scottish government figures show a very low take up for spaces from children with "multi-agency plans" in place for them at education hubs open during lockdown.

Matt Forde, head of service at the NSPCC Scotland charity, said: “We are extremely concerned about the increased risk to vulnerable children at this time – we know that very few are attending childcare and learning hubs, despite the Scottish government stipulating that places should be open to them.”

The UK and Scottish governments must radically increase their coronavirus testing targets, former prime minister Gordon Brown has said.

A report from Our Scottish Future, a think tank launched by the former Labour leader, says testing needs to be stepped up dramatically.

Mr Brown said the Scottish government's target for a 15,500 daily testing capacity by the end of May is not enough as routine checks on 800,000 key workers north of the border are needed.

He added: "It's now clear that mass testing across the community is the only way to give people the confidence to get back to work."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce has said businesses are "desperate to know when they can resume operations and how to do so safely".

Reacting to First Minister Nicola's Sturgeon's announcement that lockdown restrictions would continue, the business group's chief executive, Liz Cameron, said: "While they want to see economic recovery, it must not be at the cost of a second wave of the virus causing a further clampdown.

"Businesses in Scotland are playing their part keeping employees and customers safe.

“We will continue to urge the Scottish and UK government to take a sensible and pragmatic approach to easing restrictions and both governments must work hand in glove with business in a meaningful way to achieve this.”

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Virtual Question Time: Health ministers will now be quizzed by MSPs.

You can watch here on the live page by clicking on the play icon on the Scottish Parliament: Covid-19 business 7 May 2020 at the top of the page.

NEWS SUMMARY:

Scotland's coronavirus lockdown is to be extended, with Nicola Sturgeon warning it would be "very risky" to make changes too quickly.

By law, the social distancing measures across the UK have to be reviewed every three weeks.

However, the first minster said it was too soon to make major changes without risking a resurgence of the virus.

Lockdown is likely to be extended UK-wide, although Boris Johnson is to set out plans for the future on Sunday.

Ms Sturgeon said she was due to speak to the prime minister later on Thursday, and said she "will not be pressured into lifting restrictions prematurely, until I am as certain as I can be that we will not be risking a resurgence in infection rates".

She said her preference was for the four nations of the UK to move together, but said any decisions "must be taken with great care".

Ms Sturgeon said she would "continue to err on the side of caution".

Read more here.

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Plans for low emission zones in Scotland's largest cities have been "paused temporarily" in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Scottish government has said.

The zones in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee were expected to be implemented later this year.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said the pandemic had "resulted in necessary changes to priorities across government and across our local authority partners".

He added: "The Scottish government is fully committed to tackling air pollution in the quickest time possible.

"Given the recent uptake in active travel and air quality levels we are going to take the opportunity to review how Low Emission Zones can be designed and how our cities might witness a green recovery transformation in tandem with the Covid-19 recovery plans."