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

  1. Scotland's chief medical officer to appear before MPs to explain how Covid-19 is being handled

    Dr Gregor SmithGetty Images

    Dr Gregor Smith and other public health experts will give evidence to the Scottish Affairs committee.

    The questioning is expected to focus on the four-nations approach to coronavirus and how this will be impacted as parts of the UK diverge in their lockdown arrangements.

    The hearing will be a virtual meeting held via video link.

  2. 'I’m very confident that was handled well'

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  3. 'I lost both parents to coronavirus within a week'

    Stewart FamilyStewart Family

    A Scot living in Australia has lost both his parents within a week after they contracted coronavirus.

    Steven Stewart was told that his 70-year-old mother Helen had died suddenly at home in Dalkeith.

    Seven days later, his father John had a fatal heart attack in hospital on what would have been his wife's birthday.

    The 44-year-old engineer lives with his wife and children in Adelaide, South Australia, having emigrated from Scotland 12 years ago.

    Read more here.

  4. Nicola Sturgeon to unveil four-phase lockdown easing plan

    Nicola Sturgeon

    Scotland's first minister is to unveil details of a four-phase "route map" towards easing the country's lockdown restrictions.

    Nicola Sturgeon said earlier this week that she hoped the first phase of the process would begin on 28 May.

    Progress will be assessed every three weeks, with further phases introduced if it is thought to be safe to do so.

    Read more here.

  5. Good morning

    Welcome to Thursday's live stream. We'll be here throughout the day with all the latest updates on the coronavirus situation in Scotland.

    Headlines

    • The first minister prepares to unveil Scotland's exit strategy out of lockdown.
    • Benefit officials tell the BBC they fear as much as £1.5bn may be lost in fraudulent claims for Universal Credit.
    • Research by Edinburgh University finds wearing a face covering could reduce the forward distance of an exhaled breath by more than 90%.