The first minister says cancer referrals are starting to go up again but are still down by around 50% on normal levels, in response to a question about the long-term physical and mental wellbeing of the nation from South Scotland Conservative MSP Brian Whittle.

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She says that some "horrendous judgements" are having to be made in health care but all of them have been driven by the "overall consideration of patient safety".

Getting the health service fully functioning is "very much at the centre of our thinking", adds Nicola Sturgeon, who explains that procedures and practices currently on hold will be phased back in a safe way and that process will be driven by "clinical priority".

Mr Rennie welcomes this offer, adding the prime minister should also explain his decisions.

He says he will continue to amplify the stay at home message, but adds it is important to know what is next. When will the government set out that plan in detail, he asks.

When will test and trace capacity be ready and what will follow 'stay at home', he asks.

The first minister says returning to complete normality is probably not possible until a vaccine is ready.

I would hope over the course of next week to set out what we think the phasing of easing restrictions will be, she tells MSPs.

Ms Sturgeon says getting quality family and community life back, as well as work life, is important.

On TTI, she says flexibility in capacity is necessary and cautions against aiming for a certain capacity by a certain date.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says: "I am nervous about England and Scotland diverging from each other because it may compromise the clarity that has so far saved lives."

To justify a different message, the scientific advice must be different too, he says. Mr Rennie urges the FM to have her advisers set out the "scientific difference".

Ms Sturgeon highlights that of the four UK nations, three have decided to stick with current measures.

She offers to arrange a technical briefing with government statisticians to explain how the infection's reproduction number is estimated.

I am happy for opposition members to look at the data but ultimately we have to apply judgement to it, the first minister adds. She says: "My judgement right now is the data is saying to me the progress we have made it real, but it is still too fragile."

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Ms Johnstone says the last thing we should be doing now is dropping measures that protect people's lungs - including low emission zones.

She says there is strong evidence dirty air results in more people who catch Covid-19 dying.

The Scottish Green Party parliamentary co-leader calls on the first minister to reverse the delay to this "important public health measure".

The first minister says: "I want to see low emission zones rolled out as quickly as possible in our cities, and then over time beyond that.

However, she adds, the work required to do that simply can't be done at this time, as people are focusing on the immediate priority of tackling this virus.

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Scottish Green Party parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone argues her party has long been calling for regular testing for frontline NHS staff and carers.

Ms Johnstone says research shows blanket testing of workers in a hospital in Cambridge found significant numbers had the virus without knowing it.

She says, across the UK, 15,000 workers may have been on duty when infected and calls again for regular testing.

The first minister says if that clinical advice is given to her, she will accept it.

She points out the categories of people being tested is being increased and the capacity is being expanded.

Ms Sturgeon says we are now seeing signs that the impact of this virus is decreasing, including in care homes.

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Mr Leonard says a woman called Anne has been in touch with him to speak about concerns regarding her granddaughter, who works at a care home. Anne says residents have been tested but staff have not, and some are driving to Glasgow Airport for testing.

He says lessons have not been learned from the Highgate tragedy and he calls for "routine, regular and repeat testing" of care home workers.

Nicola Sturgeon warns against focusing entirely on testing at the expense of infection prevention and control, but adds that testing capacity is being expanded.

No care worker has to go to Glasgow Airport to be tested, though that is an option, because care home operators should be asking for tests from their local health board she explains.

Mr Leonard highlights that the care home in Uddingston was the first to experience an outbreak. Staff are going to work in fear they are spreading the virus to residents and that is "a burden that they should not have to carry", he says.

The Scottish Labour leader calls for care home workers to be guaranteed a test and suggests testing stations visit them, rather than vice versa.

The first minister says tests should be provided through their health board, though they can also book online.

"I understand the anxiety they feel. They should not feel guilt about any aspect of this at all," she adds.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard also raises care homes, saying figures indicate the proportion of deaths in Scottish care homes is nearly double that in England.

He points to comments made by former chief medical officer Sir Harry Burns that older people are more likely to catch Covid-19 when exposed to it and nurses are "unwittingly" spreading it.

Coronavirus is more aggressive in institutions which is why a different approach is being taken in care homes than with the wider public, Nicola Sturgeon replies.

She says the death toll in care homes globally is "an absolute tragedy".

She says she does not believe the proportion of deaths is lower in English care homes, but rather there is an under-reporting of figures there.

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"Fixing testing must become this government's overriding focus and it is clear it hasn't been," says Mr Carlaw.

He argues mistakes were made at the start of the crisis and they have resulted in the excess deaths we are seeing today.

The Scottish Conservative leader asks: "When it comes to care homes, do you agree that by any standards this is a failure?"

Ms Sturgeon replies: "No, I don't."

She adds: "I am not speaking as a first minister here, I'm speaking as a human being. I deeply regret every single death from this virus."

The first minister is sure she has made mistakes and says there is probably not an hour that goes by now where she does not question herself or agonise over decisions.

"We have dramatically increased our testing capacity," she says.

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Mr Carlaw says advanced outbreak investigation did not happen a the care home in Uddingston and he says Scotland is lagging far behind other parts of the UK in using testing capacity.

The Scottish Conservative leader says it is being reported today that the ratio of deaths in care homes in Scotland is double that of elsewhere.

"I take responsibility for all aspects of the government's response to this," replies the first minister.

Ms Sturgeon says a study just published shows the real figure of deaths in care homes is actually double that which is being reported.

She adds: "I am confident the figures we are publishing here in Scotland are accurate."

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The first minster says the situation in care homes has been one of the most distressing factors of all, but the government continues to do all it can to protect older people in care homes.

Mr Carlaw says care homes want to hear promises are being kept and that on 1 May the first minister promised that everyone would be tested where there is a case of Covid-19.

Yet last night a carer at the home in Uddingston said he had still not been tested, says the Scottish Conservative leader, and asks why he wasn't.

The first minister says the advanced outbreak investigation policy should be pursued in each care home where there is an outbreak.

Ms Sturgeon says any instance where that policy is not happening will be investigated.

She insists the government is determined older people in care homes will be protected.

David Porter
Scotland Westminster editor

Boris Johnson has been accused of putting ’’workers’ safety at risk’’ in his attempt to get people back to work. The accusation came at Prime Minister’s questions from the leader of the SNP at Westmisnter, Ian Blackford.

From today in England people are being urged to return to work if they can. In Scotland the advice remains for people to‘’stay at home’’.

In the Commons exchanges with Mr Blackford, Mr Johnson sought to play down differences between the UK government and devolved administrations in the way they were reacting to Covid -19. He said there was more that united them than divided them.

Jackson Carlaw begins by saying a "harrowing report" on Channel 4 heard from the Highgate Care Home in Uddingston, where 22 residents have died.

The Scottish Conservative leader says the carers said the majority of them had not been tested.

He asks: "First minister, that's an outrage isn't it?"

"Testing in care homes has been driven by clinical advice, in recent weeks of course we have increased testing in care homes," replies Ms Sturgeon.

She points out where there is an outbreak, all residents and staff will be tested - whether or not they are symptomatic.

The first minister says there is enhanced surveillance in care homes where there is the virus and surveillance across all care homes.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 13,929 people have tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 166 from yesterday.

1,534 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down 84), with 70 being treated in intensive care (down 11).

A further 61 people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 1,973 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

This is a lower figure than the 3,213 deaths confirmed by NRS earlier because it only includes those who have tested positive for coronavirus, rather than where it is suspected to have contributed.

Ms Sturgeon says the figures "offer further and sustained signs of hope" due to the death rate falling for a second week in a row.

If transmission rates continue to fall we will be able to gradually ease restrictions but for now the message remains stay at home, she adds.