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. CalMac warns against non-essential travelpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    CalMac ferryImage source, Getty Images

    A ferry operator has said people will be refused permission to board its boats if they cannot prove they are an island resident, or show evidence they are a key worker.

    CalMac has been operating a reduced lifeline services timetable since March.

    The company has concerns people making day trips will attempt to board its ferries.

    It said with good weather forecast this weekend and the relaxing of some lockdown rules, it expected an increase in people trying to travel, particularly to islands in the Clyde.

    Earlier this month, CalMac said its staff had turned away 145 people on its west coast network since the end of March. They had been unable to show evidence their primary address was on an island, or that they were essential workers.

  2. Asking someone round to do house repairs 'still too risky'published at 12:03 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    A painter at work on a houseImage source, Reuters

    Asking a neighbour or tradesman round to do minor repairs is still not advisable despite Scotland easing the Covid-19 lockdown rules.

    Jillian Evans, Grampian's head of public health, tells BBC Scotland: "Can you keep physically distant? You are going to be touching a lot of surfaces, you are going to be using the bathroom.

    "I would say that is a risk you shouldn't take."

  3. 'Bedlam' as golfers return to the fairwayspublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Mornings with Stephen Jardine
    BBC Radio Scotland

    A member of Bruntsfield Links Golf Club shows a Covid-19 warning signImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Bruntsfield Links Golf Club in Edinburgh has Covid-19 warning signs on flags at each hole

    As non-contact sports such as golf are allowed again in Scotland from today, some clubs have been struggling to keep up with demand for tee-times.

    "Bedlam wouldn't be too far from the truth," Daryn Cochrane, the general manager of Pollok Golf Club, told BBC Radio Scotland.

    "Everybody has got a lot of frustration and there is a palpable sense of relief that they are now out there playing golf, getting some exercise and seeing friends from a distance, which is great."

    While courses have been closed for the last nine weeks, many have been enjoying the chance to walk across the green spaces for exercise.

    "It has been great to see everybody out there enjoying the space," Mr Cochrane added. "It is more of a health and safety issue now, highlighting that golfers are back. We have marshalls out instructing people who might wander onto the course to avoid the wee white ball."

    Quote Message

    It is still a public right of way, as most places are. But walking over the course when people are playing is probably not to be advised."

    Daryn Cochrane, Pollok Golf Club general manager

  4. When will visitors be allowed in care and residential homes?published at 11:46 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    A general view of Elderslie Care Home in PaisleyImage source, Getty Images

    Grampian's head of public health says some people will be fearful to change what they have been doing for the last few months, despite Scotland beginning to ease its lockdown measures, "and that's a good thing".

    Asked when Scotland's "route map" might allow visitors into care homes and residential homes, Jillian Evans tells BBC Scotland: "I can't imagine that will happen very soon.

    "What many places are doing, and I think care homes are starting to introduce this, is virtual visiting - the use of iPads and other technology to communicate with loved ones at home. For now, that is going to have to do."

    Quote Message

    There is no way we want more people coming into care homes, sad and difficult as it is. These are really vulnerable areas and we want to keep them as safe, segregated and secure as we possibly can."

    Jillian Evans, NHS Grampian head of public health

  5. Could Scottish professional football return on 1 August?published at 11:38 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Media caption,

    Watch: When might different sports return?

    The Scottish FA and Scottish Professional Football League will today ask the Scottish government for permission to start next season on 1 August.

    Sports minister Joe Fitzpatrick will meet the heads of the major sporting bodies to discuss how each plans to restart.

    Football will be permitted to resume once the country enters phase two of the lockdown restrictions easing - if it can adhere to social distancing.

    Playing non-contact outdoor sports is allowed in Scotland from today.

    Read more here.

  6. If asked to self-isolate, how will you know it is not a scam call?published at 11:28 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    A woman wearing a face mask at a windowImage source, Getty Images

    Grampian's head of public health admits that "people are getting anxious" about the possibility of scam callers and phishing exercises by people posing as a member of Scotland's contact tracing team.

    "There's a team of information governance people working on it," Jillian Evans tells BBC Scotland. "It is something we're going to have to address pretty quickly.

    "People will give you information and explain to you who they are and you are going to have to make your own decision about whether that is a scam call or not."

    However, Ms Evans adds that she wants "to put faces to the names locally so the public can have confidence and can take that call".

    She admits that it is "going to be unnerving" to have someone call who has so much information about you.

  7. More businesses 'beginning to reopen'published at 11:19 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    A pedestrian walks past some closed shopsImage source, Getty Images

    A survey suggests there are signs companies that shut down completely in April are starting to reopen.

    The Bank of Scotland's business barometer survey found a fifth of firms were not operating, down from 32%.

    Meanwhile Scottish firms operating at less than 50% capacity had increased 18 points to 43%.

    Three-quarters of businesses reported disruption to their supply chain, with 14% of those saying it would take more than a year for it to return to normal.

    Read more here.

  8. Wildfire risk plea to public as lockdown easespublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Giancarlo Rinaldi
    South Scotland reporter, BBC news website

    FireImage source, SFRS Dumfries and Galloway

    A warning of a "very high" risk of wildfires has been issued for the weekend as lockdown restrictions are eased in Scotland.

    The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said much of the country was "vulnerable" to such blazes.

    People living in, or visiting, rural areas have been asked to exercise "extreme caution".

    SFRS has already tackled major incidents in Galloway, Wester Ross and near Clydebank in recent weeks.

    Read more here.

  9. When will routine hospital appointments return in Scotland?published at 10:54 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    An appointment check-in system at a doctor's surgery

    The way Scotland's GPs and hospitals have adapted to the use of technology to cope with the lack of face-to-face appointments "has been phenomenal", Grampian's head of public health suggests.

    Many services have been postponed while the NHS coped with the Covid-19 crisis.

    Asked by an asthma sufferer when appointments for those with chronic illnesses will resume, Jillian Evans tells BBC Scotland: "The gradual resumption of health care will be baby steps and those who will be seen first will be the urgent cases whose life is in danger if they are not treated or seen."

    However, she adds: "Just think of all those virtual appointments that have taken place and what we've seen in Grampian is that being used a lot."

    Quote Message

    "We're in this for the long haul. This isn't going away any time soon, so hospitals will have to adapt to new ways."

    Jillian Evans, NHS Grampian head of public health

  10. Who can I meet and where? Your questions answeredpublished at 10:42 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    A woman and a man sit next to a lake in the sunshineImage source, Getty Images

    With Scotland introducing the first phase of its lockdown easing strategy on Friday, more than 1,300 of you have sent in questions about how the new rules will work.

    Some of the most frequently asked questions include:

    • Does meeting one other household mean the same household every time - or one household every individual meeting?
    • Can someone from another household enter your house solely to get into the back garden if you have no other access otherwise?
    • What about visits to family who live more than five miles away?
    • I am a member of a golf course around 15 miles from my home. Am I allowed to travel to play?

    Read the answers to all of these and plenty more here.

  11. Engineering firms struggle with coronavirus 'tornado'published at 10:29 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    An engineerImage source, PA Media

    Four out of five Scottish engineering firms expect to cut jobs in the next six months because of the coronavirus crisis, according to a survey.

    Industry body Scottish Engineering found confidence among companies plummeted in the last quarter.

    Orders and output fell in at least 60% of firms who responded, with 27% reporting a cut in employee numbers.

    Scottish Engineering said Covid-19 had been "an economic tornado", both in its pace and impact.

    Read more here.

  12. Watch: Scotland holds its 10th clap for carers and key workerspublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    The 10th - and possibly the last - Clap for Carers has taken place with events across Scotland.

    Many of those who backed the demonstration of public support believe it should end on a high.

    Media caption,

    Scotland holds its 10th clap for carers and key workers

  13. What if a positive case for Covid-19 wants their name kept private?published at 10:06 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Jillian Evans, Grampian's head of public health, has been fielding questions on how Scotland's new contract tracing system will work.

    Contact tracers will be in touch if they believe you have been within two metres of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus or been with them for a prolonged period of time. They will ask a series of questions and ask you to self-isolate if required.

    Ms Evans is asked: "If you don't know who has given your name to the contact tracer, how can you confirm that you were definitely with them or in their environment?"

    She admits that, with other communicable diseases, the person testing positive would want their identity protected but suggests: "It is a little bit different because it doesn't have the same stigma as if it was a sexually transmitted disease.

    "So we have given people the option - if you want us to give your name to the contacts you've given, do we have your permission to do so?" Ms Evans adds that the person testing positive can choose to keep their identity private.

    An NHS message on tracingImage source, PA Media
  14. Oil and gas deterioration puts 3,000 jobs at riskpublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Subsea 7

    Hundreds of North Sea jobs are thought to be under threat at an offshore oil and gas company.

    Underwater engineering firm Subsea 7 has announced it is to cut 3,000 jobs from its 12,000 global workforce.

    The company said: "Faced with a significant deterioration in the oil and gas market, we are taking swift and decisive action to address the elements under our control."

    It is believed several hundred of those could be cut in the UK. Subsea 7 has offices in Aberdeen, a support yard in Glasgow and engineering facilities at Wick and Leith.

    Read more here.

  15. Coronavirus survivor to reopen golf clubpublished at 09:39 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Glencruitten Golf ClubImage source, Google

    As Scottish golf comes back from lockdown from today, one club in Argyll will be reopened by a very special man.

    The first tee shot at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban will be taken by James Scott, a local member who beat Covid-19.

    The 63-year-old came close to death, catching the virus at the same time as his mother Jessie, 84.

    James was in ICU for 38 days and discovered when he woke from a coma that his mother had been buried two days earlier.

    He will take his shot alongside Scotland's No 1 and world No 67 Robert MacIntyre, who lives beside the course.

    James recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £15,000 towards a special infection control room at Oban hospital.

  16. Ambulance crews adapt to new challenges of Covid-19published at 09:25 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Ambulance workers

    Cases of Covid-19 may be reducing but in the wake of the pandemic, new challenges are emerging for ambulance staff.

    The Nine was allowed exclusive access, using only still photography, to document the overnight shift of Dunfermline ambulance crews, as they adapt to the consequences of the lockdown.

    Find out what happens as they don full PPE for their first call of the night.

  17. The return of Scottish horse racing?published at 09:11 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    BBC Sport Scotland

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  18. Swinney: I'm looking forward to seeing Dadpublished at 08:55 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    On a personal note, Mr Swinney says he will be taking the opportunity to visit his father this weekend as restrictions are eased.

    "I lost my mum at the start of lockdown and, other than going to my mum's funeral, I haven't seen my dad face-to-face since the 27th of March.

    "I've managed to get him to master the art of Skype every evening, but I want to go and sit in his garden.

    "But I'm going to have to think through the logistics of it because he lives in Edinburgh and I live in Perthshire. So I'm going to have to work out how I can make that journey, drive home and not go to the loo."

  19. Moving to phase two 'may not be done quickly'published at 08:42 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    The deputy first minister says he wants to make it clear that it is not automatic that we will move quickly from phase one to phase two of lockdown.

    Quote Message

    If we don't see the necessary compliance, we may have to say to people, I'm sorry but we cannot move on to phase to because coronavirus is not contained to the level that we need.

    John Swinney, Deputy first minister

  20. Will we be given numbers of cases and traces?published at 08:38 British Summer Time 29 May 2020

    Mr Swinney is asked if data will be published to show how many people come forward as symptomatic and the number of contacts who are traced.

    He says the government already publishes a huge amount of data.

    Quote Message

    It is important that the public have an understanding based on the evidence about whether we are being successful as a society in reducing coronavirus. We need to look at the reproduction rate of coronavirus but also ICU admissions, the number of fatalities, the number of hospital admissions. Providing we can see that a number of those indicators are moving in the right direction, it can give us the confidence to move on from one phase to another.