Summary

  • A further 15 people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,331 deaths in Scotland by that measure

  • People from two different households in Scotland can now meet up, outdoors, but people must keep 2m apart.

  • Nicola Sturgeon asks the public to enjoy the changes "responsibly" and stay away from tourist hotspots.

  • FM insists health boards now have sufficient contact tracers despite claims some do not have the numbers they need.

  • Garden centres can open and site preparation can begin in the construction industry.

  • People will also be able to play some sports and councils are due to reopen their recycling centres.

  1. Today's headlinespublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    As we conclude our live coverage for today, here is a reminder of Friday's headlines:

    • Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlines changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from August, with employers starting to share the cost from August, and workers allowed to return to work part-time from July.
    • A further 15 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Scotland, taking the total by that measure to 2,331 deaths.
    • The death tally across the UK as a whole has risen to 38,161.
    • Nicola Sturgeon asks the public to enjoy the changes to lockdown measures "responsibly" and stay away from tourist hotspots.
    • The first minister insists health boards have sufficient contact tracers despite claims some do not have the numbers they need.
    • East Renfrewshire Council says some nursery children and Primary 7 pupils will return to school on a rota basis from Monday 15 June.
    • The new Scottish Premiership season will start behind closed doors on 1 August - if Scotland is in phase two of its route map out of lockdown.
    • Orkney has its first confirmed case of Covid-19 in more than four weeks.

    We'll be back with more live coverage in the morning. Have a good evening.

  2. Scotland reacts to new lockdown rulespublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Scots have been flocking out into the sunshine to enjoy the easing of lockdown rules.

    Sunbathing and outdoor sports like golf, tennis and bowls are now allowed.

    See more photographs from around Scotland.

    Youths enjoy bathing at Loch LomondImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Youths enjoyed bathing in the waters of Loch Lomond at Balloch.

    Two players prepare to take to the court at Western Health & Racquets Club in GlasgowImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Play returned at Western Health & Racquets Club in Glasgow with some safety restrictions.

    Players at Westerton Bowling Club in BearsdenImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Western Bowling Club in Bearsden was open for business.

  3. Furlough changes a 'big challenge' for Scottish firmspublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    A restaurant with its shutters downImage source, Getty Images

    Scottish businesses face a "big challenge" over changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, says the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC).

    The changes, announced by the chancellor, include a gradual increase in the amount companies contribute to their employee wage bill from August, rising to 20% of pay in October.

    SCC chief executive Liz Cameron said the UK government’s new tapered approach to the furlough scheme was not aligned with the Scottish government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

    This misalignment will affect crucial areas of the economy such as tourism which are forced to close for longer," she said.

    “Before tapering hits, we need to ensure all sectors of our economy are able to generate trade so they are able to pay employees."

    Quote Message

    We urge the chancellor to adopt measures to ensure that businesses facing ruin as the furlough scheme tapers aren’t forced to fall at the last hurdle.’’

    Liz Cameron, SCC chief executive

  4. Automatic traffic signals to reduce infection riskpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

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  5. Wildfire warning for Scotlandpublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

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  6. Police support Crown probe into care home deathspublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Elderly genericImage source, PA Media

    Police Scotland has confirmed it will support the dedicated Crown Office unit which has been set up to investigate Covid-19 deaths in care homes.

    The force said its involvement does not indicate that crimes have been committed but is designed simply to inform prosecutors.

    Cases of the virus have been reported in 60% of Scotland's care homes, with a total of 5,635 residents affected.

    The first minister described the impact on the sector as "heartbreaking".

    Read more here.

  7. Early birds catch garden centre by surprisepublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Drivetime with Fiona Stalker
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Dobbie's Garden Centre in EdinburghImage source, SNS

    Day one of phase one of the Scottish government's route map out of lockdown and the queues outside one Glasgow garden centre forced it to open 45 minutes early this morning.

    Garden centres are among the outdoor businesses being allowed to re-open and Asem Sheik, owner of Rouken Glen Garden Centre, tells BBC Scotland: "We planned to open this morning at 10am, but the doors opened at 9.15 because the queue was becoming too long. We arrived at 8am and there were already two people waiting in the queue."

    Mr Sheik, who is still not able to open the adjoining cafe, points out that his business had continued online during "a long 10 weeks" of lockdown but that it was "frustrating" not to have customers on site.

    "More than 30% of our sales for the year are in May, so we are hoping that people are playing catch up," he adds.

  8. Are drive-in movies and concerts our new entertainment?published at 18:12 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Drive-in cinemaImage source, Getty Images

    It looks like our cars might be the key to household entertainment for the forseeable future.

    TheDriveIn will tour 11 cities in 12 weeks from July until September, showing films such as Grease, Joker and Toy Story in large car parks, including Edinburgh Zoo.

    The movies will be preceded by entertainment such as bingo, stand-up comedy, family games and a silent car disco.

    Meanwhile, separate drive-in event promoters are in talks with a stately home in Scotland for a week-long drive-in festival.

    Drive In Events also hopes to host a socially distanced festival at Hopetoun House in South Queensferry, Edinburgh.

    It could host up to 300 vehicles if it gets the go-ahead.

    The company is also looking at stand-up comedy, music gigs and raves across Scotland - all viewed from vehicles.

  9. 'There will be hardship ahead for many'published at 18:05 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Rishi SunakImage source, PA Media

    The chancellor has hinted that the eight-month scheme of wage subsidies and cash grants will not make a comeback if a second Covid-19 spike leads to another lockdown.

    Rishi Sunak said the wage subsidy scheme and the self-employment support in its current form would end for certain in October.

    "Eight months is a generous and long period of time and allows companies across the UK to slowly ramp back up and gives them the best possible support to do that," he said.

    "We can't protect every job and every single business".

    Read more here.

  10. Analysis: 'Pleasant surprise' for employers in furlough changespublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Douglas Fraser
    Scotland business & economy editor

    Quote Message

    All employers who are relying on furlough are going to have to start finding more funds, at a time when they’re already burning through fixed costs – such as debt they’re carrying, rent and energy bills. But I think there's a pleasant surprise in the Chancellor's announcement. The expectation was that when employers start to contribute in August, they would be hit for 20%, with the government contributing 60% so the employee still gets 80% of their income. This has now been tapered, so August is a soft introduction, then it goes up to 10% in September, and 20% in October, so it is a gradual introduction. It is also very important for the 2.3million depending on the self-employed income support scheme to have that continue for the next three months.That will be absolutely essential for a lot of people."

  11. Scottish football gets green light to prepare for 1 August startpublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Rangers' Ryan Kent and Celtic's Scott BrownImage source, PA Media

    Scottish Premiership football has taken a step closer to starting a new season on the first weekend of August after a meeting with Minister for Sport Joe FitzPatrick.

    The Scottish FA will lift the suspension of football for top-flight clubs to allow the resumption of training from 11 June.

    But Mr Fitzpatrick says a firm date for a return of elite football, rugby union and horse racing - all initially behind closed doors - will depend on when phase two of the Scottish government's route map out of lockdown begins; and on suitable health protection measures being in place.

    Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster says: "We will continue working with the Championship, League One and League Two to gauge their ability to start the season and, if so, when - which may vary hugely between clubs."

    The SFA will also hold further discussions about when the paused Scottish Women’s Premier League will be able to restart.

    Read more here.

  12. MP highlights suffering of one in 10 women during lockdownpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Drivetime with Fiona Stalker
    BBC Radio Scotland

    NHS logoImage source, PA Media

    The extra burden of pain being experienced by women suffering from the debilitating condition of endometriosis during lockdown has been highlighted to the UK's four health secretaries by Livingston MP Hannah Bardell.

    The long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, affects one in 10 women but takes an average of seven-and-a-half years to be diagnosed.

    But Ms Bardell tells BBC Scotland that thousands of women awaiting life-changing surgeries have had them postponed because of the Covid-19 crisis.

    She reveals that she found a recent session hearing the experiences of sufferers was "particularly distressing" as they outlined how they were having to take high doses of painkillers and opiates to cope with the pain.

    In a statement, the Scottish government said it recognises their plight and is "determined to improve services as and when it is safe to do so".

  13. 'Giddiness' for return to play bemuses golf writerpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    A sanitiser station at Pollok Golf Club in GlasgowImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Golf clubs have introduced sanitiser stations among measures to encourage player safety

    One Scottish golf writer has questioned the rush to return to the fairways and greens...

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  14. To pee or not to pee? Portaloos in demand as lockdown easespublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Drivetime with Fiona Stalker
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Some portaloosImage source, PA Media

    With people in Scotland now able to meet up with others from different households - outdoors, keeping 2m apart - the demand for portaloos, to avoid visitors having to use the hosts' toilet, is surging.

    Ian Black, managing director of the firm Scotloo, says he has taken "an awful lot" of inquiries in recent days, after the event business "went off the edge of a cliff" at the start of lockdown.

    "This has helped us tremendously with people holding barbecues and others doubling up on the amount they would normally have," he tells BBC Radio Scotland. "It is just amazing. Every day just makes us that bit busier."

    So how long should people 'hold it in' to avoid using the toilet in other households?

    Matthew Bailey, a renal physiologist at Edinburgh University, says the bladder is a "really stretchy receptacle" that can hold about half a litre of liquid.

    He says it will take about five to six hours to fill up, but most people receive a signal to their brain that 'they need to pee' after one to two hours. although there is a "safety margin".

    "This should give us time to go out, meet some friends at distance and then get back home to pee in our own toilet...or portaloo," he tells Drivetime.

  15. Family look forward to reunion as lockdown easespublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

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  16. Chancellor confirms job furlough scheme to close in Octoberpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Rishi Sunak

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined details of the extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

    The scheme currently allows businesses to keep salaried staff contractually employed, but not working, while the government pays 80% of their incomes. The plan was put into place in March to keep workers at home and stave off a raft of redundancies as the economy ground to a halt.

    Sunak has said furloughed staff will be able to work part-time in their old roles from July. Individual firms will decide the hours their employees will work on their return.

    As indicated earlier this month, the subsidy will taper off from August, with businesses expected to pay a greater share of their staff salaries, starting with covering National Insurance and pension contributions.

    From September the government will cover only 70% of salaries, to a cap of £2,190 and from October it will pay 60%, to a cap of £1,875. Employers will make up the shortfall to get salaries back to 80% of pre-Covid lockdown levels.

  17. Sheriff Court 'hubs' to open next weekpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    courtroomImage source, Getty Images

    Five new Sheriff Court "hubs" will reopen next week as part of Scotland's let-up of lockdown restrictions.

    Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) plans to gradually reintroduce a small number of staff and judiciary to court buildings that are currently closed.

    So far 10 sheriff court hubs have been operating and will continue to do so as the five new sites are introduced from Wednesday

    The new hubs - which will practice social distancing and concentrate on the case backlog built up in lockdown - are in Livingston, Kirkcaldy, Greenock, Dumbarton and Airdrie and will help help deal with custodies and reduce court sitting times.

    The SCTS also said more of its business would be done online.

    The five new hubs join the existing sites in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Falkirk, Inverness, Aberdeen, Paisley, Kilmarnock, Hamilton and Dumfries.

  18. UK governing daily briefing under waypublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Rishi Sunak

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is delivering the UK government's daily briefing today.

    He is expected to clarify changes to the furlough - or job retention - scheme.

    Mr Sunak says there have been an additional 324 deaths in the UK following a positive coronavirus test, taking the total to 38,161.

    You can follow the briefing here.

  19. Scotland's sedate stroll out of lockdownpublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    People have been keeping their distance as they take advantage of the easing of some restrictions.

    Read More
  20. Post-lockdown teaching: Geodomes and polytunnels?published at 16:54 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    A geodome classroomImage source, Solardome.co.uk

    Geodomes and polytunnels could be the new classrooms when pupils return to school from August.

    Schools are being urged to be creative in order to meet social distancing regulations.

    The Scottish government's guidance document, external gives schools ideas of how to make things work post-lockdown.

    It makes clear pupils should expect big changes, from travel to school to what classrooms will look like and how long will be spent in them.

    The guidance suggests the use of flexible accommodation, including mobile classrooms and geodomes.

    Read more here.