Emergency measures to protect people facing financial hardship and allow public services to operate effectively have been introduced at Holyrood, by the Scottish government..

Key elements of the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill, external include:

• a proposed additional £19.2 million investment in Carer’s Allowance Supplement
• the introduction of notice to leave periods for students in purpose-built student accommodation and halls of residence
• additional protections for those facing bankruptcy.
• there are also recommended legislative changes in areas including non-domestic rates relief, proceeds of crime and the wider operation of Scotland’s criminal justice system

Holyrood's COVID-19 Committee will meet tomorrow at 10am to scrutinise the new Emergency Coronavirus Bill.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, SPL

Virologist Dr Frank Ryan explains there will be many different strains of the virus across the UK, each with slightly varying degrees of infectiousness and lethality.

This explains why the R-number is different between Scotland and England.

Dr Ryan says the virus mutates each time it moves through a person thus creating these different strains.

"[The virus] is following many of the sort of parameters you would expect in any viral pandemic," he says.

Image source, Edinburgh City Council

This year’s floral clock in Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens will pay tribute to the NHS and key workers.

In a change to plans for the clock’s 2020 design, the popular landmark - the world's oldest floral clock - will carry a message of thanks to those working hard through the Covid-19 outbreak.

Until April, this year’s design was due to have been a special commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which has supported the move.

It will take three gardeners six weeks to plant the 35,000-plus flowers and plants used to create the clock, which will be in bloom until October.

However, initially, it will not be a fully functioning clock as some parts are not currently available due to the lockdown.

Connor Gillies
BBC Scotland reporter

Pilots and cabin crew, left temporarily unemployed by the coronavirus crisis, have been helping NHS workers de-stress at special hubs, including one at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Project Wingman, external offers frontline medics an airport-style first class lounge with beanbags, free refreshments and psychologists on hand to offer mental health support.

Pilot James Bushe said: “We have an appreciation for what it feels like to work in an industry that is pressurised, highly regulated and disciplined. We are bringing our communication and listening skills”.

There's more on this on Reporting Scotland on BBC One Scotland at 1830.

Image source, Getty Images

A new platform to help Scotland's health and social care workers and carers look after their physical and mental health

Launching today, The National Wellbeing Hub, external will enable staff, carers, volunteers and their families to access relevant support when they need it.

It provides a range of self-care and wellbeing resources designed to aid resilience as the whole workforce responds to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The hub is the first of its kind in the UK and its content has been created by trauma and other specialists in Scotland.

Image source, Disney-Pixar/Laura Sturrock

Award-winning Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis is to present a new music series on BBC Alba, celebration Scottish and international musicians.

Filmed during lockdown, the eight-part series will put a spotlight on the creative boundaries the pandemic has put in place.

Fowlis, known for singing the theme song to Brave, had curates the first programme feature six songs with Éamon Doorley.

Between the musical tracks, musicians will reveal a little about their songs and tunes, and how they are coping during these very unusual times. Each performance is recorded in the artists own homes.

Ceòl aig Baile starts on BBC Alba on Thursday at 10pm.

Angie Brown
BBC Scotland news reporter

Khi Leonard spent a year in almost complete isolation at the top of a remote Chinese mountain while training in Tai chi and Kung Fu.

When he arrived home in Scotland he was shocked at how difficult he found being suddenly immersed back into a thriving city with all the noise and hustle and bustle.

The 45-year-old said he feared the over stimulation for some people when the lockdown was lifted would be difficult to cope with too.

Image source, Khi Leonard

He said: "When I got back to Glasgow it took a month for me to adjust.

"I think a lot of people are going to have the same problem adjusting when they finally can come out after the lockdown.

"I think a lot will turn to alcohol. There should be counselling as they will have gone from a fairly peaceful and calm way of living to sudden stimulation."

Read more here

House of Commons
Parliament

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford says "it is obvious the last 24 hours have spread confusion" and warns that "mixed messaging risks lives".

He asks the PM why the government did not share the new slogan with the devolved administrations before it appeared in the Sunday papers.

Boris Johnson says there has been cooperation across the four nations adding: "I think we have been able to make a huge amount of progress together."

He says there is "always political temptation to accentuate divisions but that is not the approach of the government".

Image source, Stirling Council

Stirling Council’s libraries service is using 3D printing technology to produce PPE for NHS staff and other key workers.

The libraries' digital team currently makes more than 100 face masks a week.

Library technician Lauren McCombe said she was initially a "bit overwhelmed" after being given the responsibility of printing the masks, just a week after taking up the role.

She said: “It turns out that throwing yourself into something like this is a great way to learn the ropes and I've had loads of fun doing it."

Image source, PA Media

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says he recognises "just how difficult" the decisions the PM has to make are.

Sir Keir says the country needs "clarity and reassurance" but these have been in "pretty short supply".

He says the fact Mr Johnson made his TV statement before the document was published "has caused considerable confusion".

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Today Radio Scotland's Drivetime is talking about divergence in leaving lockdown strategies:

• the prime minister has given more details of his plan to ease lockdown in England. The message is "STAY ALERT" but includes people returning to work if they cant work from home and primary age kids going back to school.
• the Scottish message remains "STAY AT HOME" with the advice unchanged, save more exercise being allowed
• as the rules change down South, the programme will hear from people living on the border
• Scotland office minister Douglas Ross and Scottish government minister Joe Fitzpatrick will give their governments' divergent perspectives

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The four nations of the UK will not leave lockdown in lockstep as the UK government had wanted.

Instead, Boris Johnson has decided to set the pace in England, accepting that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will proceed at the speeds their devolved governments judge is right.

There were lots of questions for Nicola Sturgeon today about the science behind these different approaches and the practical difficulties divergence might cause.

But I thought one of her most interesting answers stressed a continuing search for convergence and clarity in what could become an increasingly confusing situation.

The first minister said she was “very open” to considering the UK government’s proposals for England with an interest in adopting the same “system of phasing” for lifting lockdown, if not the same timetable.

Separately, the Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has told me he hopes that as Scotland continues to suppress coronavirus it might be able to “catch-up” with the dates pencilled in for England.

Getting all the governments of the UK to agree on everything has not proved possible but attempts to coordinate between the four nations have not been abandoned.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, bbc

Boris Johnson tells MPs that the reopening of society and the UK economy should go ahead with "utmost caution".

He says the R rate - which measures the spread of infection has fallen from between 2.6 and 2.8 in April to between 0.5 and 0.9 now.

He says making sure the disease does not spread and reopening the economy will be a "supremely difficult balance to strike".

He adds that some parts of the UK may need to stay in "full lockdown" longer than others - but this should be short term.

The prime minister says social distancing requirements will "inevitably" limit capacity on public transport.

He says new advice to wear face coverings on public transport and in enclosed spaces does not include the wearing of medical face masks.

These, he says, should be "reserved for people who need them".

You can follow live updates here.

What can people in England do from Wednesday that they couldn’t do before?

The UK government has published some answers to FAQs on its website including "what can I do on 13 May that I can't do now?".

The answer includes spending time outdoors, meeting one other person from a different household and going to a garden centre.

It comes as we expect to hear more from Boris Johnson very shortly.

You can read the full document here., external

Remember the advice from the Scottish government remains unchanged and the only difference is today you can go out to exercise more than once.

All the devolved nations have rejected the new guidance from the UK government sticking with"Stay At Home, Save Lives".

• How lockdown rules now differ between Scotland and England?