Summary

  • People in the most-deprived areas of Scotland are 2.3 times more likely to die with Covid-19 than those in the least deprived areas, new data reveals

  • National Records of Scotland (NRS) release weekly figures of Covid-related deaths showing that 3,213 people in Scotland lost their lives to the virus

  • The total number will be higher as the data does not include deaths registered since 10 May

  • Local firms in Scotland are on a "knife-edge" because of the coronavirus restrictions, say Federation of Small Businesses

  • MSPs are to consider emergency legislation to allow students to end accommodation contracts amid pandemic

  • Some lockdown restrictions have been eased in England

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. Recap: Tuesday's main points

    Chancellor Rishi SunakGetty

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended the furlough scheme until October

    In case you missed them, here are some of the yesterday's key developments:

    • The UK scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus has been extended until October
    • Chancellor Rishi Sunak said from August companies would have to start sharing the cost of the scheme
    • Nicola Sturgeon urged Scottish companies not to call staff back to work early while the coronavirus lockdown remains in place.
    • The first minister strongly rejected any suggestion of a "cover-up" after a BBC Disclosure documentary revealed that Covid-19 arrived in Scotland when a Nike conference was held in Edinburgh in late February - a week before the first confirmed Scottish case in Tayside.
    • SPFL clubs rejected an independent investigation into April's vote to end the lower-league season in Scotland.
    • A further 50 people died after testing positive for Covid-19.

  2. Good morning and welcome to Wednesday's live coverage

    Stay At Home messageGetty Images

    Wednesday means we are expecting National Records of Scotland to release the weekly figures of confirmed and suspect Covid-19 deaths and breakdown by setting.

    Last week the number of weekly deaths decreased from the previous figures for the first time. But the total figure stood at 2,795.

    We will bring you this, plus all the latest developments on Scotland's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Follow our live updates here all day.