Coronavirus in Scotland - 'Outdoor focus' on lifting lockdown

Summary

Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled details of a four-phase "route map" towards easing the country's lockdown restrictions
The first begins after 28 May and there will be a review every three weeks
The R number is below one and has been so for three weeks, allowing a slow lifting of lockdown
The first phase of lifting lockdown will allow different households to see each other in "small groups" and only in "outdoor spaces"
The fourth phase could see "mass gatherings resuming in line with public health advice" and all types of "shopping, eating out and drinking" allowed
Children in Scotland will go back to the classroom from 11 August, but they will not be there every day
The government says the approach will be a "blended" one in which pupils will be in school on certain days and at home on others

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

Coronavirus 'could provide opportunities to tackle homelessness'published at 10:18 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, PA Media
The coronavirus pandemic could possibly help the plight of the homeless in Scotland.
The Scottish government is being urged to build on the progress that's been achieved addressing the needs of the homeless.
A group of charities - allied under the "Everyone Home" banner - will present a plan designed to make Scotland the first nation in the UK to eliminate rough sleeping and ensure there's no return to the “old normal” once this virus has passed.
Since March many rough sleepers have been accommodated and supported.
Quote Message
There will be an impact within the housing market itself which might see for example in cities like Edinburgh, who have particularly low levels of housing available, there might be opportunities to work with private landlords to convert some of that into what would be homes for people.
Patrick Mackay, Homeless Network Scotland
Council finances require 'fundamental reassessment'published at 10:09 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Image source, Billy McCrorie
The coronavirus emergency has created a need for "fundamental reassessment" of Dumfries and Galloway Council's financial position and budget strategy, according to a report to the local authority.
Head of Finance Paul Garrett said it was well placed to deal with the immediate pressures - given the additional funding received from Scottish government.
However, some of its emergency response measures may be needed for an extended period and will have significant financial implications for the public purse.
The council said it was also becoming apparent that social distancing would remain a feature post lockdown and that implementing new ways of working would carry further cost.
'We can't run at full occupancy, so will the government help us?'published at 09:50 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty
Hairdresser Michael Moran tells Good Morning Scotland he is looking to Germany and Belgium to see how his business might run after lockdown restrictions are lifted.
The owner of Pele in Glasgow says he expects to have to wait until the third phase to get back to work.
He is uncertain of how he can keep his business viable with the new arrangements.
Quote Message
There are going to be incredible restrictions when we go back. We are likely to be in the third phase and social distancing will be in place for a while. There is no question our business will not be allowed to run at total occupancy which will certainly affect our turnover. Will the government assist us with staff wages, will our landlord and staff be happy with less money - it is uncertain. To get the doors open we will need a health and safety inspection, the minute we finish working on a client the whole area will need to be sterilised. We will need masks and gloves and sterilising equipment.
Michael Moran, Owner, Pele Glasgow
MSPs to quiz culture secretary on impact of Covid-19published at 09:42 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop
MSPs will quiz Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop on the impact of tourism on the music industry and the rest of the cultural sector from 10am this morning.
Watch live with us here, just click on the play icon on Scottish Parliament: Covid-19 business at the top of the page.
The Culture, Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee papers can be read here, external.
Scottish music industry hit by Covid-19 'catastrophe'published at 09:29 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
James Cook
Chief News Correspondent for The Nine
Coronavirus has been "catastrophic" for Scotland's music industry with more government support essential, the head of a trade body has warned.
Robert Kilpatrick, from the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said support was needed to prevent irreversible damage to the industry.
A prolonged period of social distancing would jeopardise the future of many venues, he told BBC Scotland.
Mr Kilpatrick's concerns are echoed across the country and the industry.
Call for tourism lockdown liftpublished at 09:15 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Andrew Black
BBC Scotland Business Presenter
Image source, Getty Images
As the first minister gets ready to unveil a "route map" for easing lockdown restrictions, there has been a call to help struggling tourism firms.
Neil Lapping is the founder of Glasgow-based Macs Adventure, which runs walking and cycling holidays in the UK and Europe.
He said May was normally their busiest month, but forward bookings were currently 10% of normal.
Following comments by UK government culture secretary Oliver Dowden that UK holidays could return in July, Mr Lapping told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We would love to see that kind of messaging coming out of the Scottish government, otherwise we'll be running trips in England and not in Scotland."
He also said Macs Adventure was re-starting its German operation after a "huge appetite" for bookings, after the relaxation of lockdown rules in the country.
Join us here on the live page for extensive coverage of the first minister's statement on easing the lockdown from 12.30pm.
What are you hoping to hear about easing the lockdown?published at 09:05 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Join us for extensive coverage of the first minister's statement from 12.30pm
It's a huge day for Nicola Sturgeon today as she will unveil her four-phase route map out of lockdown.
We are told it will be slow and cautious, but Kaye wants to hear what your priorities are. Call 0808 5 929500
In the programme's regular Thursday health surgery, Dr Sandesh Gulhane is here to answer your medical questions ...whether they are coronavirus related or not. Get in touch by text 80295 or give us a call.
Listen: What has been the impact of lockdown on Scotland's garden centres?published at 08:59 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
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What the papers saypublished at 08:53 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
The easing of Scotland's lockdown restrictions in Nicola Sturgeon's four-phase exit plan, dominate the front pages.
It comes after deaths from the virus fell for the third week in a row.
Read the full round-up here.
Listen: First minister to give more details on when Scotland's schools will reopenpublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
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Swinney: Education will have to 'adapt' to allow Scotland's schools to reopenpublished at 08:41 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty Images
Scotland's education secretary says the government has to build confidence in parents and teachers around the evidence that it is safe for pupils to return to school.
He said for schools to return, it is about "reducing the prevalence of coronavirus, a reduction in the number of people in intensive care, a reduction in the number of deaths and the presence of a contact tracing strategy in place".
He says the contract tracing service will be ready at the end of this month.
He says contact tracing is a critical element of the response and that the scientific advice says young people are less involved in the transmission of the virus than older people.
And observing the scientific evidence, and by using careful judgement, this can be done phase-by phase.
Quote Message
There are going to have to be changes to the way in which education is delivered. Some of our largest primary schools have 400-500 pupils in them. Some of our secondary schools have more than 1,500 people in them. It's inconceivable they can all come back on one occasion. We are going to have to adapt education. If we adapt our education system, then it is safe for us to resume education.
John Swinney, Deputy first minister
Deputy first minister says Scotland's "stay at home" message will remain in placepublished at 08:26 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Mr Swinney says any easing of the lockdown measures will be subtle and slow.
But he says people should remember the "risks and dangers" we face if we don't tackle and eliminate the virus.
He says the virus is still having a devastating effect on people's lives and society has to work to overcome it.
Quote Message
The Stay At Home message will stay. Yes, there will be some relaxation of the lockdown and we have already allowed people to exercise more from home. But although we are seeing a reduction in the effect of coronavirus, we have not seen it eliminated yet and we must continue to play our part.
John Swinney, Deputy first minister
John Swinney: Scene of crowded Portobello beach 'not desirable'published at 08:18 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Ahead of Nicola Sturgeon's statement to the Scottish Parliament, her deputy John Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland that people needed to continue with basic lockdown instructions.
The first minister has spoken of her confidence that people across Scotland will - in her words - "continue to pull together in this national endeavour".
But this morning's front pages - filled with images of a sun-kissed Portobello beach packed with people - would suggest that patience in certain quarters may be wearing somewhat thin.
Mr Swinney agreed the scenes were disappointing.
Quote Message
They were not in any way desirable. The congestion of people illustrated the dangers we face here. So many people in such close proximity doesn't demonstrate following the guidance set out. The message of scenes from Portobello is people must continue to observe physical distancing.
John Swinney, Deputy first minister
'Scotland can’t return to business as usual’published at 08:10 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Media caption,
Coronavirus: Scotland can’t return to 'business as usual’
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar calls for state intervention to “retrain and re-skill” the workforce after lockdown.
'Scotland can’t return to business as usual’
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar calls for state intervention to “retrain and re-skill” the workforce after lockdown.
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Post-lockdown - will it be one metre or two?published at 08:03 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Police patrolled Portobello beach on Wednesday as people flocked to enjoy the sun
Gina Davidson tells Radio Scotland that Nicola Sturgeon says she understands how difficult the lockdown has been for people.
But on social media people's reaction varied between anger at people going to the beach to sunbathe yesterday and those who saw them as social distancing.
Ms Davidson says it is a line Nicola Sturgeon will be conscious of - not to let the floodgates open and let everyone rush out.
She also wonders if the two-metre rule will stand.
Quote Message
It will be interesting to see her advice on social distancing. She has said the route back is based on World Health Organisation evidence and we know they have said it should be one metre. And maybe we are talking about mandatory face coverings.
Gina Davidson, Deputy political editor, The Scotsman
EasyJet to resume flights in Junepublished at 07:56 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Image source, TF-Images
The airline says it will restart a "small number" of routes where there is enough customer demand from 15 June.
The low-cost carrier announced it will restart flights on mainly domestic routes between 22 European airports.
In the UK, these include Gatwick, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Belfast.
As part of new safety and hygiene measures, passengers and crew will be required to wear masks on board aircraft.
'I don't think there's been a more important day for Nicola Sturgeon.'published at 07:50 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
As Nicola Sturgeon prepares to unveil her plans to ease Scotland out of lockdown, critics acknowledge that she will have to get her message right.
She will detail her government's four-phase approach to emerging from the coronavirus lockdown.
Her choices will have massive repercussions for the country and journalist Gina Davidson says she will be mindful that she can't put a step out of place.
Quote Message
I'm not sure she has faced a more important day. She'll be very aware that whatever she says today, people will be hanging on her every word to know how much more normality can be returned to their lives. And she knows if she gets it wrong, if the messaging is confusing, if people pick things up in the wrong way, then lives could be at risk and for any politician I don't think there's anything more critical.
Gina Davidson, Deputy political editor, The Scotsman
How will Scotland move into the contact tracing phase?published at 07:36 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
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Scottish government defends moving elderly hospital patients into care homes without coronavirus testpublished at 07:24 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
BBC Breakfast
Image source, SNP
Scotland's deputy first minister has said the government was right to move elderly patients from hospitals into care homes without testing for coronavirus in March, because hospitals were an "inappropriate setting" for their care.
John Swinney's comments come after a critical report by think-tank, the Common Weal, external said many of Scotland's care homes rated as adequate or below, before the pandemic hit, were incapable of protecting older people from the virus.
According to the most recent figures on the toll Covid-19 has taken in Scotland, almost half of all deaths have been in care homes.
Mr Swinney told BBC Breakfast that there was long-standing recognition that hospital was not the place for older patients who required long term social care.
Quote Message
The policy approach has always - on care for the elderly - always recognised that a hospital setting is not the most appropriate setting for an individual. But what Covid has required us to do is to make sure that we have a very stringent approach to the management of the healthcare of individuals and particularly to make sure that where individuals are transferred from hospitals to care homes, they are appropriately nursed within isolation.
John Swinney, Deputy First Minister
Prince William lifts the lid on royal meal times during charity callspublished at 07:13 British Summer Time 21 May 2020
Prince William gave an insight into royal mealtimes during a call to a Scottish charity.
Speaking to representatives of the Peek Project, he said the success of his family meal depend very much on "what's on the table".
The Glasgow-based charity provides hot and healthy meals for vulnerable families during the covid crisis.
William, known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, had been scheduled to be visiting this week but the trip was cancelled because of lockdown restrictions.