Small businesses that share properties but do not pay business rates are now eligible to apply for grants to help with the impact of Covid-19.

The extension to the Small Business Grant Fund will apply to firms occupying shared office spaces, business incubators or shared industrial units and who lease the space from a registered, rate-paying landlord.

Separately, eligibility has also been extended to companies occupying multiple premises with a cumulative value of more than £51,000.

From today, eligible businesses will be able to apply to their local authority for grants of up to £10,000.

It has also been confirmed that the Small Business Grant and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant schemes will close for new applications on 10 July.

Latest figures up to 2 June show that £824.541m has been distributed to 72,622 businesses across Scotland through the schemes, but that new applications have slowed in recent weeks.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, SNS

Despite lockdown restrictions, thousands of people gathered in Glasgow and Edinburgh yesterday to attend rallies for Black Lives Matter.

Activist Victoria Heaney decided to show solidarity without breaking the guidelines, citing the plea made by the family of Sheku Bayoh - a black man who died in police custody after being arrested in Kirkcaldy in 2015.

"I thought it was important to support the family's views and his sister Kadi is a nurse working for the NHS. When you look at the spread of Covid-19 it disproportionately affects minorities.

"We attached posters to our rucksacks and our bicycles and rode across Glasgow. People could see we were part of the movement but we weren't in Glasgow Green with all of the other protesters.

"We got a good reception, people tooting their horns.

"I'm not going to criticise those that did show up. A lot of people were very torn."

Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC news website

Famous works of fiction could have a part to play in boosting the economy of south west Scotland which has been badly hit by coronavirus.

The Wigtown Festival Company, based in Scotland's national book town, is leading efforts to make the region a centre for literary tourism.

The Spot-lit project, which will run for a year, is supporting a range of initiatives across the area.

It aims to allow businesses and organisations to make the most of links to famous works including John Buchan's The 39 Steps.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

A footballer has been remanded in custody after being convicted of coughing at police officers and telling them he had coronavirus.

James Hurst, 28, flew into a rage in the garden of a woman's home in Glasgow's Drumchapel in April.

He admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner towards the officers.

A court heard the ex-West Brom and Wrexham defender initially contacted the police claiming to be the victim of domestic abuse.

Read more here.

Image source, NHS Tayside

A new feedback system has been brought in at a Dundee hospital in response to the coronavirus.

The radiotherapy department at Ninewells Hospital used to be given feedback via a comments book in the waiting area.

But for infection prevention, it has been removed and replaced with an online questionnaire.

Staff say the feedback since the launch of this new initiative has been very positive.

Gareth Hill, who is in charge of therapeutic radiography, said: "Listening to cancer patients’ views has always been important to us.

"We have received comments praising the attentiveness and excellent communication of staff as well the support they give to patients which helps to allay their understandable fears and anxieties."

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. We are still currently in phase one.

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

The first minister is "optimistic" about moving to aspects of phase two on 18 June if the current progress is maintained. The above link is the Scottish government's four phases for easing the restrictions.

3. Coronavirus (COVID-19): shielding support and contacts, external

The government has today asked people to continue to shield and to stay at home until at least the end of July. The link above provides information about support for those in the shielding group. It also details the change in allowing those shielding at home to exercise outside from 18 June.

Here's a couple of other useful links:

4. 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

5. NHS Inform, external

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

Image source, Science Photo Library

The shielding of those who are most at risk if they become infected with Covid-19 should continue until 31 July, the first minister has said.

The Scottish government's original advice was to shield until 18 June, but this has now been extended until "at least" the end of July.

However, Nicola Sturgeon said the group would be able to go outside for exercise from 18 June.

Currently the advice is to stay at home and not go outside at all.

Read more here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

John Beattie will be on air from 16:00 BST.

Coming up today:

• On the day UK quarantine rules come into force, the travel and tourism industry say they face collapse
• Stephen Leckie from the Crieff Hydro group on job losses at the family-run hotel business
• When will we be able to go on holiday? Travel expert Simon Calder answers your questions
• On the second day running of no Covid-19 deaths, the shielding of the most vulnerable is extended until "at least" the end of July but there will be scope for outdoor exercise from 18 June
• Thousands turned up at anti-racism rallies over the weekend, despite pleas from the first minister and police

Image source, SNS

The Scottish government is considering easing lockdown further from 18 June. But the first minister said changes might not include every element of the second phase.

But what are the options the government might be considering?

• You might be able to meet more people outside. You might even be able to meet one other household indoors – as long as physical distancing is in place.
• Professional sport could return.
• Non-office-based indoor work might come back- that could include factories, labs and construction. Smaller shops could also reopen.
• Places of worship might be able to open for private prayer.
• Pubs and restaurants may open up their outdoor spaces, with physical distancing measures in place.

To reiterate, not every one of the might be available in 10 days' time - but they are the steps the government's route map, external lays out for phase two.

Image source, PA Media

Nicola Sturgeon today said she was "optimistic" that Scotland could move into the next phase of the government's "route map", external towards lifting lockdown on 18 June.

But until then we remain in phase one.

That means:

• you should still be spending the vast majority of time at home, including working from home if possible.
• but you can meet up outside with one other household each day, to a maximum of eight people, as long as a 2m distance is maintained.
• any travelling to meet with friends and family should be within five miles.
• those who are shielding should continue to do so.
• you should not be going inside other people's houses - even to use the bathroom.
• the majority of retailers should remain closed. Exceptions are shops which provide essentials, like food, and those with outdoor premises, like gardening centres.

Image source, NHSGGC

Staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary staged a guard of honour as a colleague left hospital following an eight-week battle with Covid-19.

Health care support worker John Burns, 55, spent six of those weeks in intensive care but has now made a full recovery.

Mr Burns, from Barmulloch, Glasgow, said: "It’s been a long road but I just want to thank my amazing colleagues at GRI for their care and expertise.

"Much of my time was spent in ICU and I know it’s been a scary time for my family."

Lead nurse Tricia Myers said: “John’s recovery is nothing short of remarkable.”

Catriona Renton
BBC Scotland reporter

During lockdown volunteer drivers and donors have been ensuring Scotland’s Milk Bank, based in Glasgow, keeps providing breast milk for premature babies.

Louise McGee’s son Noah was born eight weeks early last year and she received donated milk to help feed him. Now she’s a donor.

“Donor breast milk is literally a lifesaver,” she said.

“I do it to give something back and to try to help other families that are in the same position we were.”

Driver Nick Torsney added: “You think you could be saving a tiny life. And during this pandemic babies are still being born and they still need the milk.”

You can see more on this on Reporting Scotland on BBC One Scotland at 1830.

An animal charity is looking for help in providing staff with face masks.

Scottish SPCA centres are closed but there are more than 170 workers still caring for animals during the coronavirus pandemic.

The charity is looking for masks made of tightly woven cotton material - with animal designs encouraged.

Scottish SPCA deputy head of field operations Graeme Innes said: "We are finding it hard to meet the needs of our staff as the disposable face masks we have are being used at an alarming rate."

Image source, Getty Images

BP has announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs following a global slump in demand for oil because of the coronavirus crisis.

The oil giant had paused redundancies during the peak of the pandemic but now it has said around 15% of its workforce will leave by the end of the year.

BP has not said how many jobs will be lost in the UK but it is thought the figure could be close to 2,000.

Nicola Sturgeon is "optimistic" that Scotland's coronavirus restrictions could be eased further on 18 June after a second day with no recorded deaths.

The first minister also confirmed that "shielding" of those most at risk from the virus would continue until the end of July.

Read more here.

The other key points from today's briefing were:

• From 18 June those shielding expected to be able to exercise outside - to be confirmed on 17 June
• Sturgeon ‘deeply regrets’ administrative error on shielding letters
• FM labels Scottish Tory calls for health secretary to resign ‘disgraceful’
• The second day in a row of zero deaths from the virus means the total number of deaths remains at 2,315
• However the FM urges caution over these weekend statistics

Image source, Getty Images

As this week is Carers Week, Tom Magner from Carers World Radio highlights a poll indicating the number of unpaid carers in Scotland has increased from just under 750,000 before the pandemic to 1.2 million now.

He asks if it is time to stop relying on unpaid carers and instead treat them as paid workers.

The first minister replies: “We know what a huge debt of gratitude we owe to carers.”

As we come out of this crisis there will be lots of issues we will want to look at fundamentally, she adds.

But she says Scotland has done more for carers than elsewhere in the UK, including the carers’ allowance supplement.

The Daily Record ask if it is wise that nurses continue to move between different wards in our hospitals.

The first minister says the measures in place to prevent the spread of infection in hospitals are "very vigorous" and that she expects routine testing to increase as we move into the next phase of combating the virus.

Jean Freeman adds that hospitals established Covid and non-Covid zones at the outset of this crisis to ensure the minimum transfer of the virus.

As the health service is remobilised, testing of staff becomes more important, stresses the health secretary.