Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon says it is now time to move to Phase 1 of easing lockdown restrictions

  • From tomorrow people can meet with another household outdoors - recommending gatherings of no more than eight

  • Also on Friday, people will be allowed to sunbathe and relax in places like the park, while social distancing

  • Non-contact sports like golf, tennis and bowling will be allowed for the first time in more than eight weeks as part of the changes

  • The R number - the measure of how infectious Covid-19 is - has been below one for a period of three weeks - and currently sits at between 0.7 and 1

  • The "Test and Protect" strategy to identify and isolate new cases is now up and running in Scotland

  1. Lockdown: The beginning of the end?published at 19:02 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Golf course preparationImage source, Getty Images

    Thanks for joining us on the coronavirus live page today. Here are the main stories of the day:

    • People will be able to meet their friends and family outside from tomorrow, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
    • Two different households can meet, but they must keep two metres apart and be in groups of no more than eight.
    • Golf courses and garden centres will also reopen, followed by council recycling centres on Monday.
    • Construction firms have been cleared to start preparing for work to resume.
    • Coronavirus cases are falling at roughly the same rate across the UK, according to a scientist leading the government.

    Join us again tomorrow morning for the latest developments.

  2. Avoid busy areas during good weather – police chiefpublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    A scene from Glasgow's Botanic Gardens todayImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    A scene from Glasgow's Botanic Gardens today

    Police have urged the public to avoid busy areas such as parks, beaches and lochs as lockdown measures are eased and temperatures rise.

    From tomorrow, Scots will be allowed to sunbathe, play certain non-contact sports and meet people from other households outdoors.

    "We recognise that people have made significant sacrifices until now, and while the temptation may be to head straight for one of our beauty spots, we would ask people to use their judgement and avoid going to places which are normally busy during the good weather,” said Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.

    “We want people to enjoy our outdoor spaces safely and our officers will be robustly tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in our communities.”

    He added that officers will continue to "explain legislation and guidance" to the public and "encourage compliance."

    “We will use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation,” he said.

  3. Coronavirus: R number 'very similar' across UKpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Stats

    Coronavirus cases are falling at roughly the same rate across the UK, according to a leading scientist advising the government.

    Prof Graham Medley said there was no evidence of differences in the reproduction (R) number across the UK.

    Deaths and cases have fallen in every UK nation and region since early April.

    That suggests the R number - the measure of how many new people are infected by each case - is below one everywhere.

    The government is keeping a close eye on R as it reviews lockdown. If it goes above one, the epidemic will grow.

    Read more here.

  4. Hearts' reconstruction bid 'self-seeking', says Cowdenbeath chairmanpublished at 18:39 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Cowdenbeath chairman Donald FindlayImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Donald Findlay says the Hearts plans don't address anything new and have already been rejected

    Four clubs in Leagues One and Two have told BBC Scotland they will vote against the proposal put forward by Hearts on reconstruction.

    The Edinburgh side, relegated from the Premiership after the season was called to an end prematurely due to the coronavirus, are advocating a change to three divisions of 14, away from the current 12-10-10-10 set up.

    But Cowdenbeath chairman Donald Findlay has described the Hearts plan as "self-seeking" and a "non-starter".

    Forfar Athletic, Peterhead, and Elgin City are already publicly opposed to the idea and if two more clubs from the bottom two tiers think the same way, it is destined to fail.

    "This is all about Hearts not being prepared to accept relegation," said former Rangers chairman Findlay.

    Read more

  5. Dobbies to reopen Scottish garden centrespublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Dobbies garden centreImage source, Dobbies

    Garden centre retailer Dobbies has announced it will reopen 12 stores across Scotland on Friday following the Scottish government's updated guidance on lockdown restrictions.

    The company said social distancing measures had been implemented to allow the stores to operate safely.

    A limited number of customers will be permitted in the outlets at one time and a queuing system will be in operation outside the stores.

    Hand sanitising and trolley cleaning stations will also be available at the entrance of all stores. The restaurants and soft play areas will remain temporarily closed.

    Dobbies began reopening its other UK stores on 11 May.

  6. Would one metre be better than two for distancing?published at 18:23 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Distancing measures are slightly different across EuropeImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Distancing measures are slightly different across Europe

    "Walking past somebody on a pavement is not a high risk activity," Professor Robert Dingwall from Nottingham Trent University told Drivetime earlier.

    The sociologist was of the opinion that the two-metre distance rule was "plucked out of the air" at the start of the crisis.

    Professor Dingwall, who sits on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, told BBC Radio Scotland: "It's one of those things that was put in place very hastily on the basis of a partial understanding of the available evidence. As time has gone on, it's justification has looked more threadbare."

    He believes halving the physical distancing advice would benefit many businesses trying to get up and running again and says he expects the UK government to adopt this stance soon.

    Of the two-metre ruling, which remains a key element of Scotland's phase one out of lockdown, he says it is "exaggerated, does unnecessary economic damage and inflates the fear factor".

    He adds that one metre is "effectively the international standard", endorsed by the World Health Organisation and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

  7. Employers must be 'flexible and accommodating'published at 18:13 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    On contact tracing, John Swinney confirms people will be asked to go back over a two-week period.

    It will be important to think about the manner in which you are interact with people because of the definition of a contact, he adds.

    Another person has been in touch to ask about employers who are expecting parents to go back to work if kids are not back in school.

    The deputy first minister says it is important to "establish harmony" between the interests of business and of education.

    "I would make a plea to employers to be flexible and accommodating for staff," he says.

  8. 'This is not a real news conference'published at 18:07 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

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  9. You can travel to meet family outdoors but cannot go into their housepublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    John Swinney reiterates the government will look at whether to move on to the next phase every three weeks.

    The next review date is 18 June - though the deputy first minister says if it it possible to move to phase two earlier, we will.

    Mr Swinney says the five-mile driving rule is specifically to discourage people travelling to beauty spots.

    But if you have members of family in another area, you can travel further - as long as you are seeing them outdoors he says. He warns you are not supposed to go into their house though, even if you need the bathroom.

    Michael has text in to ask if he could go to Essex for his father's funeral, but Mr Swinney says he would have to be "very careful" and a journey to Essex would be "difficult to justify" under current guidelines.

  10. FM asks public to read lockdown easing guidancepublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

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  11. Air bridges likely to be in place rapidly to reduce quarantine requirementspublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Airport arrivals, people in face masksImage source, Getty Images

    The Independent's travel editor Simon Calder says almost as soon as the plan for travellers to the UK to quarantine for 14 days comes into effect, it will rapidly begin to be rolled back through so-called "air bridge" arrangements.

    This would allow tourists to travel between two countries without needing to quarantine.

    The UK is set to put in place these deals with places like Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey, Mr Calder suggests.

    However, he adds, despite this, the damage has already been done to the tourism sector because people believe it will be in place.

  12. PM stops England's CMO from answering Cummings querypublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

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  13. Seek advice early, say insolvency expertspublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Douglas Fraser
    Scotland business & economy editor

    Experts who handle firms when they’re facing financial distress have issued advice ahead of an expected rise in company collapses.

    R3, the trade body for insolvency accountants in Scotland, is telling firms to keep a close watch on cash flow, check their insurance and employment contracts and apply for any government schemes that could help.

    The group also says that it is best to seek expert advice early, and to communicate openly and honestly with staff and suppliers.

  14. Johnson wants to 'draw a line under' Cummings issuepublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Boris Johnson is leading today's briefingImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Boris Johnson stops Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from answering question on Cummings

    The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg asks the first question from the press.

    She asks about a statement from Durham Police, who said they would have sent the PM's top aide, Dominic Cummings, home when he went to Barnard Castle during lockdown - something that has led to calls for his resignation.

    She asks the PM and the experts why people would stick to the rules if Mr Cummings didn't.

    Boris Johnson says: "I have said quite a lot on this matter already and noticed Durham Police said they were going to take no action."

    He adds: "I intend to draw a line under the matter."

    He also stops Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from answering, saying he wants to "protect them [as it is] unfair and unnecessary to ask them a political question".

  15. Postpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

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  16. Optical Express apparently in beach of guidelinespublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    BBC Scotland has learned that a major high street chain of opticians is reopening for non-urgent, elective treatments apparently in breach of Scottish government guidelines.

    Drivetime understands that Optical Express has clients booked in for lens replacement surgery tomorrow and on Saturday at its Glasgow clinic.

    In a statement Optical Express said it had "taken careful note of the Scottish government’s framework for decision-making in relation to the easing of restrictions." and would "continue to follow advice from regulators and other public bodies".

    However the Scottish government told the programme: "We cannot comment on the specific claims because we are not aware of the full details however, opticians should not be undertaking non-urgent procedures at this time."

  17. NorthLink stresses 'essential' island travel onlypublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

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  18. Swinney to answer your questions on easing lockdownpublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    John SwinneyImage source, bbc
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    John Swinney will be on Driveime shortly

    Deputy First Minister John Swinney will be answering questions on what this first phase of easing lockdown means.

    The education secretary will be on Drivetime shortly.

  19. Scottish Open rescheduled for Octoberpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Ian Poulter playing on the final day of the Scottish Open in 2019Image source, SNS

    The Scottish Open is set to be played from 8-11 October at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, as European Tor golf gets ready to resume.

    The season is set to start again, without spectators, in July with a six-week 'UK Swing' tournament and events will run through to December.

    In a statement, the Tour said the return of tournaments was subject to "stringent safety and testing protocols".

    Read more

  20. 'More guidance required for intimate partners'published at 17:17 British Summer Time 28 May 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Keep a safe distanceImage source, PA Media

    "Standing in a garden two metres away from the person you love is not something that any of us will find easy," says Professor Public Health Linda Bauld on the new easing of lockdown measures.

    "Human contact is a big part of who we are," she tells BBC Radio Scotland.

    And what about lovers who have been separated since mid-March?

    "What we need is more guidance for intimate partners," adds Professor Bauld.

    "This is not about going on Tinder and doing whatever you like - it is about sensible, public health advice. We need to have an adult conversation around this because it is not sustainable."