Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

"It's going to be easier at the moment, when the vast majority of the population are not moving around very much," says Professor of Public Health Linda Bauld on the job of contact tracing.

"As we move forward through the phases of easing lockdown, it's going to be more important that all of us keep track of where we have been and who we've seen," she tells BBC Radio Scotland.

Professor Bauld is heartened to see "protect" highlighted in the Scottish tracing strategy, saying good levels of support, including sick pay, will be required, but adds that she is "really optimistic that people will trust the system and go with it".

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

He'll be on Drivetime in around 45 minutes time. Text your questions to him on 80295.

Image source, bbc

Today's UK government briefing will be led by Boris Johnson shortly, who is expected to set out what lockdown restrictions will be eased from 1 June.

The prime minister will be joined by the government’s chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, and its chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.

It's likely Mr Johnson will face questions from the media about the news Dominic Cummings might have broken lockdown rules on a trip to Barnard Castle.

That's according to Durham Police who have siad it would have been a "minor breach".

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Ian was one of the first to go through the test and trace process when it was the strategy in the earlier days of the pandemic in Scotland.

He recalls: "When I first experienced symptoms I contacted NHS 24 and subsequently was tested positive. The contact tracing system that worked then was concerned with getting a health professional to call you.

"What I then had to do was go through a series of set questions detailing to them who I'd been in contact with, what my symptoms were, what time the symptoms arrived."

Ian says fortunately he had only been in contact with a small number of people so was able to pass on everyone's details. But he says there was "a degree of worry and angst" among those he had been in contact with that they may have been exposed.

Check out how Scotland's testing and tracing system works here.

West coast ferry operator Caledonian MacBryane (CalMac) says its sailings will continue to be restricted to essential travel only in coming weeks.

The company has been operating a reduced service since March, with sailings available to islanders, key workers and deliveries of supplies.

It said its essential lifeline timetable will be in operation until at least 14 June.

CalMac said: "When we agree our next timetable, it will remain focused on the priority lifeline services and the changing needs and welfare of island communities. It will still look very different to our service during normal times."

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Image source, SNS

First Bus is offering a new service to passengers who have an app on their smart phones, telling them not only when the next buses are due to arrive where they are waiting, but also to tell them how full the buses are.

With a sharp reduction in capacity to allow for social distancing, more people are likely to be turned away by drivers and the app is designed to help travellers plan ahead for services and times with fewer passengers already on board.

On Tuesday, First Bus revealed a 75-seat double decker would carry 18 passengers, with nine or 10 allowed on single deckers at any one time.

Scottish Chambers of Commerce says its members need to know when they will be allowed to open again.

Chief executive Dr Liz Cameron said: “Entering phase one of the easing of restrictions will be welcome for many but the clock for businesses is ticking.

"The need for firmer timelines is an increasingly urgent matter for companies across all sectors who still face significant risk if they are not able to open urgently.

"Preparing for a safe return to the workplace is the utmost priority for businesses and should be too for government.”

Image source, Getty Images

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

There's a warning help for homeless people is now on a knife-edge, after huge steps forward during lockdown, when accomodation was provided.

Holyrood's local government committee has heard from three charities about the way forward.

MSPs were told rough sleeping had now been reduced to a handful of individuals in each city, but that we're now at a critical point as lockdown begins to ease.

People in Scotland will be able to meet their friends and family outside from tomorrow, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

Ms Sturgeon said people from two different households will be able to meet, but must keep two metres apart.

They must also remain outdoors, and in groups of no more than eight.

People are still being urged to "stay at home as much as possible", with Ms Sturgeon warning that the virus "is still out there".

Read more here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

It's the news we've all been waiting for! As of tomorrow: You can chill in the park, enjoy a BBQ, golf, fish, play bowls, and see friends and family from a two metre distance.

Also on the programme:

• Drivetime learns Optical Express is preparing to flout Scottish lockdown rules
• Durham Police confirm Dominic Cummings' actions were a breach of the guidelines
• And John will be joined later by the deputy first minister John Swinney, answering your questions on lifting lockdown. Text 80295.

Image source, Getty Images

After almost 10 weeks of lockdown, some restrictions are due to be eased. Families and friends will be able reunite (outdoors and at a distance), people will be able to play some sports and visit garden centres, and councils are due to reopen their recycling centres.

But with Nicola Sturgeon still urging people to "stay at home" as much as possible to contain the spread of the virus, life will remain far from normal.

So what exactly can people in Scotland do from Friday?

Find out here!

Read the Scottish government guidelines here, external

South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said the moves announced by the first minister would be welcomed by many people but remained "fraught with dangers".

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that people in Scotland will be able to meet their friends and family outside from tomorrow.

"Lots of people have been in touch with me about issues such as recycling centres, garden centres and golf courses so they will be relieved," said Mr Smyth.

“But if everyone now rushes to take advantage of the changes then that will cause huge problems and we will soon find ourselves back in lockdown," added the Labour MSP.

"People need to act responsibly, use common sense and remember that this pandemic has killed many people in our region and ultimately saving lives is the most important consideration in everything we do."

Image source, Getty Images

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the office was where millions of us spent about a third of our time.

However, since the lockdown, almost half the UK's workforce say they have been working from home, external - and some companies have hinted it could become the future.

"The notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past," said the boss of Barclays, while Morgan Stanley's chief said the bank will have "much less real estate". Businessman Sir Martin Sorrell said he'd rather invest the £35m he spends on expensive offices in people instead.

Read more.

If you wish to continue watching communities and local government portfolio questions you can here at Scottish Parliament TV, external.

The Scottish government has identified four phases for easing the restrictions, external:

The next phases after the measures announced today:

Phase 2: Virus controlled. You can meet larger groups outdoors, and meet another household indoors. Construction, factories, warehouses, laboratories and small shops can resume work. Playgrounds and sports courts can reopen, and professional sport can begin again.

Phase 3: Virus suppressed. You can meet people from more than one household indoors. Non-essential offices would reopen, along with gyms, museums, libraries, cinemas, larger shops, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and dentists. Live events could take place with restricted numbers and physical distancing restrictions. Schools should reopen from 11 August.

Phase 4: Virus no longer a significant threat. University and college campuses can reopen in full, mass gatherings are allowed. All workplaces open and public transport is back at full capacity.

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

The first minister confirmed the easing of lockdown in Scotland at a podium bearing the words “stay at home”. She is not switching to “stay alert” or some other formulation at this stage.

When I asked her if the retained messaging still applied, Nicola Sturgeon insisted staying at home as much as you can remains the starting point.

What the new guidance published by the Scottish government does is to expand the range of reasonable reasons why you might leave the house. That inevitably means that as we move into this new phase, ministers are counting on you to follow guidance and exercise good judgement, responsibility, restraint.

They hope that works and that new legally enforceable rules are not required. But as the deputy first minister John Swinney put it the gradual easing of lockdown is not a free for all.