Fraser Knight from Global asks about guidance or legislation to prevent employers discriminating against parents, given children will be returning to school part-time.

“We do not want this part-time, blended model of education to last any longer than it has to,” replies the first minister.

She recognises the knock-on effect it will have on parents’ work and she confirms the government is looking at working with employers to ensure flexibility.

Image source, PA Media

Alan Smith, from Bauer, says the leader of Dumfries & Galloway Council has today said that what it will be offer pupils in the new academic year will be constrained by what the local authority can afford in adapting to social distancing rule.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies that the Scottish government and local government will always have tensions about funding but stresses that they will work together to the same goal and promises that it will "not become a tussle over money".

She says councils must look within their own resources and look creatively to meet the challenge while the government has a duty to work with councils and say, if they are struggling with resources, it must look to what is provided.

Peter MacMahon, of ITV Border, suggests that, with shops in northern England being able to re-open while Scotland has not done so, puts shops in the south of the country at a disadvantage because customers can travel across the border.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sympathises with shops in the south of Scotland but says that her government's decisions are based on public safety while taking into account the economic impact.

She points out that phase two of easing lockdown will be announced on Thursday and she hopes to give a date for the re-opening of the non-essential retail sector.

Image source, Richard Dorrell

Image source, Kimberley Darroch

Sky News' James Matthews says that Kimberley Darroch, the mother of 10-year-old Milly Main, is disappointed in the Scottish government's review of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

She has said she was never spoken to as part of it, and had hoped it would help her understand why their daughter died - she feels she is still in the dark.

He also suggests that the health secretary's opponents are criticising her "initial reluctance" to having an inquiry.

Jeane Freeman says she met "a large number of the families who have been affected" and that she takes it very seriously.

She says the review is part of three significant pieces of work to give answers to the families and to learn the lessons for building such projects.

Ms Freeman says there is also "ongoing liaison with those families" and realises the report will not necessarily provide individual answers to their own situations but says the following inquiry will provide them.

She points out that it was up to those carrying out the first review who they interviewed.

Image source, Getty Images

James Matthews, from Sky News, asks about the two-metre social distancing rule, pointing out that businesses want it reduced to one, and wonders what work is ongoing to review that.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recognised the interest in the two-metre rule but says she is not putting a timescale on it.

She will be consulting with her advisory group but stresses that, if she thought it was safe to move away from the two-metre rule now, she would do that.

"If you reduce the two metres, there are other things you have to consider, like face coverings and the amount of time people can be in that proximity," she adds.

Image source, PA Media

BBC Scotland's Lucy Whyte says some parents are being told by councils that their children could be in school for as little as one day per week or one week in every three.

She wonders if the first minister thinks this is good enough and would consider a national minimum amount of face-to-face teaching.

Nicola Sturgeon says that those examples are "clearly not good enough" and refers to her previous stated wish that schools have to seek to "maximise" face-to-face learning with teachers.

While that will not be 100% of the time to start with, she will look for that to be improved over time and admits the government will consider a minimum requirement.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman highlights the publication of the review into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which was commissioned after fears deaths were linked to infections.

The report found there were a "series of problems" with the design and build of the campus - but no clear evidence to link those failures to any "avoidable deaths".

Ms Freeman says the campus now offers a high quality healthcare, but notes the report concluded the risk “could have been lower” for patients with compromised immune systems.

“On behalf of the Scottish government, I want to express how sorry I am that patients and families have had to endure this situation,” the health secretary says.

She goes on to thank whistle-blowers for raising concerns, adding this report will inform the public inquiry into the construction of the QEUH and the new Sick Kids’ hospital in Edinburgh.

The chief nursing officer Fiona McQueen will also report on infection control at the hospital in the future, Ms Freeman adds.

Image source, PA

Image source, Getty Images

Several NHS staff have been on the receiving end of abuse as attendances at services have increased, Scotland's interim chief medical officer says.

Dr Gregor Smith says he has been "disturbed" by the number of accounts of health professionals being abused, adding: "This is unacceptable in our health service".

He urges people seeking help to be patient, as measures in place to stop the spread of Covid-19 may mean they will be waiting "a little longer" than usual.

Dr Smith also announces the establishment of a new group to examine potential threats to public health going into autumn and winter.

This will be chaired by former chief medical officer Sir Harry Burns.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer have their relegations confirmed after 16 of the Scottish Professional Football League's 42 clubs indicated that they would vote in favour of league reconstruction.

The SPFL's 42 clubs were asked if they would support a permanent 14-10-10-10 setup, but the backing fell short of the threshold required.

The league says its board has now "agreed to draw a line under reconstruction talks".

It means that next season will begin with the existing 12-10-10-10 format.

The International Council of Education Advisers will be asked to consider experiences in other countries.

The first minister says the government will work with councils to ensure support for those learning from home.

She says: "It is our firm intentions, as things stand now, that next year's exam diet will go ahead."

The first minister pledges that ensuring children get the highest quality education and their life chances are not negatively affected will be of absolutely critical importance.

Image source, PA

Ms Sturgeon says: "It is absolutely not the case that we are planning for blended learning, with children learning at home for part of the school week, to last a year. Or anything like it."

She adds: "We do not want blended learning to last a single moment longer than is absolutely necessary.

"So we will be working with councils to return schools to normal as quickly as we can."

She stresses the government wants children back getting 100% face-to-face teaching as soon as it's feasible.

The first minister says the three weekly reviews will now include data about the transmission of the virus in schools.

Where it is suggested safety restrictions can be eased without undue risk this will be done.

Ms Sturgeon says the government will ask councils to revise their plans where maximising time in schools is not happening.

The first minister points out creativity will be required but the government will help address resources issues and the quality of education will be the priority.

She says from 11 August the aim will be to "return to normal schooling as quickly as we possibly can", with safety paramount.

Image source, PA Media

Ms Sturgeon moves to talk about school education.

The first minister says parents and children are deeply anxious about the impact of the crisis on schooling, as is she.

She says it is the government's priority that children do not lose out on their education or have their life chances damaged.

It is the expectation that by the time schools return on 11 August councils will have put in place arangements that absolutely maximise the time that young people spend getting face-to-face learning, she explains.

The first minister says from Thursday onwards a more detailed breakdown of test results by date and by region will be provided.

This will be available on the Scottish government's website.

Image source, PA Media

Nicola Sturgeon says from today the government is incorporating new data with daily figures now for all tests in Scotland.

The first minister says in the 24 hours up until 08:00 this morning 29 positive cases were confirmed, nine from tests conducted at UK facilities and 20 were from NHS Scotland facilities.

In total there have been 18,030 confirmed positive cases in Scotland since the beginning of this outbreak.

A total of 15,697 of these were tested in NHS Scotland labs and 2,343 were tested through UK facilities.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms a further 29 people have tested positive for Covid-19.

A total of 870 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down 94), with 18 being treated in intensive care (up three).

Meanwhile 3,909 people have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for the virus since 5 March.

No deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19 have been registered in the last 24 hours. The total number of deaths in Scotland remains at 2,448 by that measure.