Image source, SNS

That is everything from us on Scotland's live coronavirus page for today. Here's a reminder of some of Thursday's headlines:

• Face coverings could be mandatory in the future, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says
• The UK government later confirmed that passengers on public transport in England would have to use face coverings from 15 June
• Nine more people are confirmed to have died with Covid-19 during the last 24 hours
• 1,021 patients are currently in hospital with coronavirus or suspected coronavirus
• The rate at which an infected individual is passing the virus to others stands at between 0.7 and 0.9, which is a little below what it was earlier in May
• However, the R number estimate does not take into account the easing of lockdown restrictions
• With rain and wind forecast for this weekend, the first minister says people should not be tempted "to meet indoors"
• Health secretary Jeane Freeman admits there are lessons to learn in light of the scale of virus deaths
• A plan to resume cancer services in Scotland has been published

Join us again from early tomorrow for more news from the Covid-19 pandemic as it relates to Scotland.

A new agency should be created to look after financial stakes taken by the Scottish government in private companies it hopes to rescue, former banker Benny Higgins recommends.

The plan from the man chairing the government's eight-member economic recovery panel will go before the cabinet next week.

It echoes First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's statements today suggesting the government will not shirk from such intervention to help businesses in trouble because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Scotland, Mr Higgins reveals that other priorities include youth unemployment, rural vulnerability to the tourism stoppage, skills and the school curriculum and making more of Scotland's universities.

The Scottish government has published a new framework for getting cancer surgery services, external back up and running.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the focus was on making sure patients across the country get the same level of priority and that people are offered "the earliest possible appointment" for surgery.

This could mean people are given an appointment outside their health board area, she said.

Cancer charities have welcomed the framework. Macmillan Cancer Services said it was "vital that cancer does not become the forgotten C as we deal with Covid-19".

Image source, PA Media

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has received a negative test result for coronavirus, his spokeswoman has said.

Mr Sharma said he would like to offer "huge thanks" to those who have expressed their well wishes over the last 24 hours as well as the Parliamentary authorities.

He became unwell in the Commons on Wednesday, when he was seen mopping his brow several times while speaking.

He was then tested for the virus and went home to self-isolate.

Read more here.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

"Distressing evidence" has led a Holyrood committee to call on the Scottish government to set out the steps it is taking to ensure women and children at increased risk of domestic abuse during lockdown have access to the support services they need to escape violence.

Figures released today by Police Scotland show a 46% fall in reporting of sexual assault and a 27% drop in rape and attempted rape during April's lockdown.

But Ruth Maguire, convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s equalities and human rights committee, says that, while investigating the human rights impact of the pandemic, it heard of "the detrimental impact of the response to this pandemic on vulnerable women across Scotland".

In a letter to the Minister for Older People and Equalities, Christina McKelvie, the committee asks what actions are being taken in response.

It claims that reduced capacity at refuge accommodation has resulted in fewer families being rehoused, while school closures have left children more exposed to risk of harm and a lack of outreach services available has also impacted women from black and minority ethnic communities.

A UK government minister has rejected Alison Thewliss' claim that forcing black people to work is a racist policy and suggested the SNP MP was "inflaming racial tensions".

Kemi Badenoch said work was under way to find out why risks were higher for some ethnic groups.

But she also rejected claims that "systemic injustice" is the reason ethnic minorities are more likely to die from Covid-19 in England.

"This is one of the best countries in the world to be a black person," the equalities minister told MPs.

Work is also under way to find out why an initial report by Public Health Scotland , externalfound no racial disparity in coronavirus deaths in Scotland, she told MPs.

Read more here.

Image source, SNS

Top-flight football clubs' first-team squads will be allowed to return to training from 11 June, the Scottish FA has confirmed.

The suspension of football, which has been in place since 13 March, will be lifted next week for Premiership sides.

The Scottish Professional Football League hopes to start a new top-flight season on 1 August, but lower divisions and leagues wishing to resume must prove they can meet testing and other health measures.

Protocols issued to clubs this week say training must initially be non-contact and in small groups.

Read more here.

At the Scottish government's daily briefing the first minister called on people to focus even more so now on what the Scottish government is asking them not to do.

Ms Sturgeon said: "It is by not doing certain things right now that we will all help stop this virus spreading."

She went on to say, that this weekend would see more traditional Scottish rain and warned: "You cannot and you must not meet people from an other household indoors."

That's a surefire way of spreading the virus, Ms Sturgeon added.

You can find all the guidance below:

1. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 1: staying at home and away from others (physical distancing), external

This is the guidance for the first phase of easing the lockdown.

2. Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis, external

The Scottish government has identified four phases for easing the restrictions. We are currently in phase one.

3. Test and Protect, external

If you have Covid-19 symptoms go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test

4. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.

The Scottish government has published for the first time information about the spread of coronavirus in hospitals.

In a written answer to a question at Holyrood, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed there had been 125 reported incidents "involving Covid-19 cases outside the Covid-19 wards".

Of these, all but five are "closed", meaning there is no evidence of continuing transmission.

Ms Freeman said it was possible that some patients had actually contracted the virus outside of hospital but did not start showing symptoms until after they were admitted to other wards, and that "reports of incidents have been declining since the beginning of May".

Scottish Labour said it was "worrying that so many outbreaks of Covid-19 have been taking place in our hospitals", calling for more details.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

A Greenock company praised today by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for its response to the spiralling demand for protective equipment because of the Covid-19 crisis has admitted that these "are challenging times".

BPI sales director Lorcan Mekitarian tells BBC Radio Scotland: "Back in January, when the supply chains were disrupted in China and factories shut down, we could see there were problems on the horizon.

"We are very experienced in the manufacture of polythene aprons and have done for many years. The market became very competitive and it was something we drifted away from, but we could see impending supply chain issues

"We are making polythene disposable aprons, making between two and three million per week. We've brought it into a factory that was making general purpose polythene bags, so we've had to create a complete new unit within the factory. We will have recruited 75 people by the time the project has finished."

Scottish government report on PPE., external

With face masks being made compulsary on public transport in England, while the Scottish government considers a similar move, many people may be worried about not owning one.

But it is possible to make your own at home.

There are a few simple rules - the more layers of material the better, the mask needs to fit snugly around the face and you should be able to breathe comfortably.

Read here for several ideas of how to make your own masks at home from materials you may have lying round.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says that as of Monday 15 June face coverings will become mandatory on public transport in England.

There will be exemptions for young children, he says.

But broadly we are doing what many other countries will do Mr Shapps adds.

"We need to ensure every precaution is taken," Shapps says.

He says "face coverings offer some - albeit limited - protection".

Those who don't comply can be stopped from travelling and passengers can be fined, the minister says.

Earlier Nicola Sturgeon said her government was considering making the wearing of face coverings mandatory in enclosed public spaces in Scotland.

You can follow live updates from the UK government's daily briefing here.

Image source, Reuters

Hundreds of posts spreading misinformation about Covid-19 are being left online, according to a report from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate.

Some 649 posts were reported to Facebook and Twitter, including false cures, anti-vaccination propaganda and conspiracy theories around 5G.

90% remained visible online afterwards without any warnings attached, the report suggests.

Facebook said the sample was "not representative".

Read more.

At today's daily briefing Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish government was considering whether to make face coverings mandatory in Scotland in shops and on public transport.

The first minister said she "strongly encouraged" people to do so because of the benefit they had in terms of protecting others.

Ms Sturgeon explained that as the country opened up more, and as people go back to work in the future, government will want to see people wearing a covering.

• A total of 15,553 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Scotland
• A further nine people who tested positive have died, taking the total deaths to 2,395 by that measure
• PPE report to be published by Scottish government
• The first minister warns people not to meet those from another household indoors, regardless of the weather

Image source, bbc

• Sturgeon highlights slight improvement in R number - although this doe not take into account impact of easing lockdown
• FM considering making face coverings mandatory in shops and on public transport, with exemptions
• Health secretary announces the publication of a framework for recovery of cancer surgery

We should be hearing from the UK government in the next few minutes, but let’s take a look at the latest coronavirus developments across the country first.

• It’s been revealed that UK PM Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak met Business Secretary Alok Sharma a day before Sharma self-isolated with coronavirus symptoms
• The travel industry has condemned the UK government’s quarantine rules, warning the mandatory two-week isolation will deter visitors and put jobs at risk
• Nicola Sturgeon warns Scots not to meet up with other households indoors
• Hundreds of jobs are under threat at five Scottish luxury hotels run by the InterContinental Hotels Group