Image source, Reuters

Ewan Petrie from STV asks for an update on how many additional contact tracers have been recruited and how close the government is to meeting its target of 15,500 tests a day.

Nicola Sturgeon says "we are very close to reaching the capacity for 15,500 tests a day" and adds "we may have to go beyond that in future".

On contact tracers, the first minister says there are already 660 of the targeted 2,000 in place, with "around 750" who were identified from a previous recruitment trawl involved at various stages of the appointment and training process.

She adds that there have been almost 25,000 expressions of interest, with today the closing date for applications.

"As of the end of the month, we may not need all 2,000 of those tracers and we may not need all of the testing capacity," says Ms Sturgeon. "But we may need those resources in the future."

Image source, EPA

BBC Scotland's Katie Hunter asks a question about testing for care home staff.

She highlights a case in Lanarkshire, where it appears staff at one home were told by the health board that only symptomatic care workers should be tested at a time when this was not government policy.

Jason Leitch said the purpose of the testing guidelines is to help in managing new outbreaks.

The current guidance now is that all staff should be tested, and all residents who consent to being tested.

He explains for some residents, for example those with dementia, having a test can be unpleasant and distressing.

Prof Leitch says if NHS Lanarkshire has not followed the guidelines in this case then he will tell them to make sure they do.

Image source, Emma Russell

Nicola Sturgeon acknowledges the coronavirus crisis is "causing increased stress and anxiety for probably everybody", with people cut off from their usual support networks.

The first minister says since lockdown began, the Scottish government has provided £8m to projects aimed at tackling social isolation.

This money now supports 350 projects in every part of the country, she says, including phones calls to elder people, food parcels, help with digital technology and respite care for parents of children with additional support needs.

Ms Sturgeon thanks everyone working across the third sector and volunteers involved in providing these services.

“Your willingness to help others in what is the most difficult of times for you, as well as others, is hugely appreciated,” she says, stresses help is available via the Clear Your Head website., external

Nicola Sturgeon says she is "very supportive" of the UK government's proposed policy on a 14-day quarantine for arrivals in the country.

It has been suggested that those not complying could be fined £1,000 but chief constable Iain Livingstone understands the police will have a "minimal role" to play.

He says it will be self policing initially, with health protection officials also involved in any spot checks.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says more detailed advice and information will be published in the days before next Thursday for the public, as well as guidance for key sectors of the economy.

"That is a really important part of preparing for the move into phase one so there is as much clarity as possible about what we are still asking you not to do," says the first minister.

Ms Sturgeon emphasizes that none of the changes are yet in place. "We can only begin to implement them if we continue to suppress the virus," she adds.

Professor Jason Leitch, the national clinical director, says five basic steps in combating the virus will become "even more important" once phase one begins next week.

• Regular hand washing - or use of hand gel
• Keep two metres distance of those not in your household, wear a face covering if you cannot safely social distance in a shop, for example
• Avoid touching eyes,nose and mouth
• Cover mouth or nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing - to prevent aerosol transmission
• Clean all household surfaces regularly

The chief constable of Police Scotland, Iain Livingstone, says he wants to thank the "overwhelming majority" of the public for their cooperation over lockdown.

He says that as we progress through the phases of leaving lockdown, it is inevitable that police will move from "explaining, encouraging and where necessary enforcing restrictions" to a greater emphasis on guidance and advice.

Mr Livingstone says the approach of the police has been broadly to rely on the public doing the right thing.

But, he says, "the rules in Scotland have not changed" yet and "as a last resort" officers will enforce the law while they are out proactively policing until the change.

"Please stick with it," he urged.

Image source, Getty Images

Addressing the re-introduction of non-contact outdoor leisure activities such as golf, tennis, bowls, fishing and croquet - that will be allowed subject to appropriate hygiene and physical distancing - Nicola Sturgeon says the government is asking people to "stay fairly local".

Five miles is not going to be a strict limit, she says, but is intended to provide a guide.

"What we don’t want is for people to congregate in tourist hot-spots," says the first minister.

"Crowds of people, even if they are trying to be socially distant, brings more risk that we don’t judge is safe to take at this time."

The first minister reveals that more than 100,000 have viewed the Scottish government's online document on the easing of lockdown and apologises for the brief collapse of the website yesterday due to the demand.

Nicola Sturgeon says the changes will be "incremental" and says there may be the need to alter the proposed path, including lifting restrictions quicker, before reminding us that lockdown measures remain the same and phase one of the gradual 'route map' out does not begin until next Thursday.

She says people will be free to meet up with more than one other household - but to make sure that it is "one at a time". She urges the public to use "good judgement" and adds that the government is not imposing a five-mile restriction for visiting parents in their garden, for example, but adds that long journeys will increase the likelihood of needing to go inside to use a toilet, which could unwittingly spread the virus.

Image source, Angela O'Connell

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 14,969 people have tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 113 from yesterday.

1,257 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down 61), with 50 being treated in intensive care (down one).

3,508 people have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for the virus since 5 March.

A further 24 people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,245 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon will update us shortly on the latest developments in Scotland around coronavirus.

The first minister will be joined at the briefing by Police Scotland's Chief Constable Iain Livingstone and National Clinical Director Jason Leitch.

You can follow it right here by clicking on the link above or watch it on the BBC Scotland channel.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister has dismissed criticism of her slower pace on lockdown as "silly party political games".

Nicola Sturgeon was speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain after the comments from the former Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson.

She said watching the first minister's statement was like viewing a "plus one" TV channel - claiming it was the "same stuff" a fortnight later.

Ms Sturgeon hit back: "I have tried throughout this whole crisis not to get party political because these issues are too important. It is really important the opposition parties ask tough questions and bring real scrutiny to bear but I am not sure many people have patience for these silly, party political games being played just now.

"When people do that, I think it kind of reveals more about them than it does about me or the Scottish government. I will just keep focused on the task at hand."

Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC news website

Image source, Robbie Family

When Scottish schools reopen in August, it is expected that most pupils will spend half their time learning at home.

The Scottish government has promised a major investment in laptops and tablets to ensure that can happen.

However, in the Borders every secondary school pupil has already been given an iPad through the council's £16m Inspire Learning scheme. Could this be the shape of things to come for the rest of the country?

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish Government says "everything possible" is being done to "limit the impact" of the coronavirus crisis on the building of two new Calmac ferries on the Clyde.

The Ferguson Yard was shut down on 27 March due to the pandemic, but officials say additional design work, which is considered a critical activity, has been continuing remotely.

The building project was already running years behind schedule and massively over budget.

Image source, Getty Images

The UK government borrowed £62.1bn in April, the highest monthly figure on record.

It underlines the cost of coping with the coronavirus pandemic through jobs schemes and loans, and is double the forecast of many economists.

The cost of furlough schemes had the largest impact, hitting £14bn in April.

The government's independent forecaster, the OBR, has said the gap between the UK's borrowing and spending could hit £298bn this year.

Read more

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

Scottish badminton player Kirsty Gilmour has taken to training in the car park under her building during lockdown.

"I've mapped out an area that's roughly the size of a court," she tells BBC Radio Scotland. "The best way for me to recreate playing is doing shadow movements, no shuttle, just pretend you are playing, so when anyone sees me down there I look a bit mad."

Gilmour, 26, was a European Games silver medallist last year and is keeping busy with two online training sessions a day, led by the Scottish Institute of Sport and coaches from Badminton Scotland.

She explains that provisional guidelines from Badminton Europe suggest four players and one coach in any training hall at one time as the next step, saying: "Our head coach reckons if we do that with each group in for an hour, with a half-hour turnover, it will take from eight in the morning 'til eight at night to get through the squad."

Image source, SNS

Meanwhile, 800m runner Guy Learmonth has painted some markers in the street of his parents’ home in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

“A lot of the natural training areas have been overwhelmed with people exercising at all hours so I have just stuck to one training area, in my street,” he said. “I have got it marked out with tiny markers every 50m up to 750m, and the parking bays are spaced out perfectly too for when I am doing 100m or 200m reps.

“It is getting a bit boring now if I am honest but we just have to keep ticking over until we can get back on the track again. The difference right now is not staying motivated but staying disciplined.

"Normally we are always working towards a goal, or a championships. That has been taken away and we don’t know when we are going to race and compete again. So you have to stay disciplined with your training, recovery and diet, so we are ready to go whenever we are allowed to compete again.”

Image source, Gett

UK scientists are to begin testing a treatment that it is hoped could counter the effects of Covid-19 in the most seriously ill patients.

It has been found those with the most severe form of the disease have extremely low numbers of an immune cell called a T-cell.

T-cells clear infection from the body.

The clinical trial will evaluate if a drug called interleukin 7, known to boost T-cell numbers, can aid patients' recovery.

Read more

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

Dr Margaret Harris from the World Health Organisation describes the Scottish Government's four-phase route map as "very sensible".

"This is not like getting let out of school, it has to be a gradual easing," she tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"Social distancing is something we weren't doing properly before, that's how we got into this mess. That, along with hand hygiene, needs to be an absolute reflex now for all us.

"If we don't heed the measures, we will be back to square one, or it could even be worse. Stopping this is in everyone's hands. It really is humanity versus the virus, so be proud of what you can do."

Image source, SNS

Homeowners struggling financially due to coronavirus will be able to extend their mortgage payment holiday for a further three months, or cut payments.

Mortgage holidays started in March, allowing people to defer payments without affecting their credit rating.

That respite from payments would end for the first applicants in June and the UK Treasury said the extension would provide certainty for those affected.

However, it said borrowers should still pay their mortgages if they were able.

The deferred payments will still have to be paid back later on, so mortgage customers will face higher bills once the so-called holiday comes to an end.

Read more

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

The First Minister has detailed her four-phase strategy to lift the lockdown.

But once the dust has settled, will everything just go back to the way it was before or has the experience of the past few months changed the way we look at the world of work?

Work expert Sir Cary Cooper gives his predictions for the future, which he believes will bring an end to the traditional office setting.