The first minister moves to free school meals and emergency food support more generally.

Ms Sturgeon says free school meals are currently being made available to around 175,000 children across Scotland.

She says: "I can confirm today that this provision will be extended right throughout the summer holidays."

£12.6m of funding will be provided to councils to facilitate this and £15m will be provided to maintain wider support for those in severe poverty and those being asked to isolate under Test and Protect.

The first minister says that, later today, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes will set out to parliament details of a further £230m of support for the economy.

Ms Sturgeon explains this package will be open to projects that can provide an immediate boost to jobs and growth, while also helping the future economy.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister stresses not all changes will happen overnight.

However, she hopes workers will be able to return to factories, with strict hygiene and physical distancing.

The construction industry should be able to continue its restart plan and "non-essential retail businesses can have a date for safe reopening".

This gradual emerging from lockdown requires continued support for businesses, she adds.

The first minister insists it is essential the Job Retention Scheme is extended and that case is being made to the UK government.

The Scottish government has additionally provided £2.3bn in support, she adds.

Ms Sturgeon says the progress being made in suppressing the virus is a central foundation for a sustainable economic recovery.

The first minister says a sustainable recovery will lead to more resilience against future outbreaks.

She says: "On Thursday I will announce the outcome of a review into lockdown restrictions.

"I hope and expect that on Thursday we'll be able to confirm a move from phase one to phase two of our plan for reopening the economy."

Image source, Getty Images

These statistics and a general increase in economic anxiety will lead some to argue for a quicker than planned exit from lockdown, the first minister says.

"I absolutely understand that. But difficult though all of this is, we must guard against a reckless relaxation of lockdown measures.

"Because if we ease restrictions too quickly and allow the virus to run out of control again, that would be economically counterproductive, but it would also cost many more lives."

Image source, PA Media

Ms Sturgeon says the protection of the Job Retention Scheme will mean these unemployment figures are likely to be an underestimate of the impact of Covid-19.

The first minister explains the figures only cover until April and don't yet give a full picture.

She says the claimant count also includes May and suggests the claimant count in Scotland was 7.8%, the same level as the UK as a whole.

"The data undoubtedly demonstrates that dealing with Covid has created an economic crisis that demands our full focus and attention", she tells the briefing.

The first minister says the main focus for today is the economy.

Ms Sturgeon points out the latest labour market statistics have been published which cover the period from February to April.

She says todays' figures show unemployment in Scotland increased from 97,000 to 127,000.

The unemployment rate increased from 3.5% to 4.6% and the employment rate fell from 74.9% to 74.3%.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 18,045 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 15 from yesterday.

986 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (up 116, though there were 11 fewer confirmed cases), with 19 being treated in intensive care (up one).

3,929 people have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for the virus since 5 March.

A further five people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,453 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

The Scottish government briefing will begin at 12.30pm, with the first minister being joined by Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith.

Ms Hyslop explains why she thinks it emerged today that Scotland's unemployment rate is now the highest among all the UK nations:

Iain Macinnes
BBC Scotland

Image source, getty

There are fears that a new outbreak of coronavirus in Beijing, could have an impact on exports of Scottish salmon to China.

There are reports of a number of supermarkets and restaurants cancelling orders of imported salmon, after the virus was identified at a wholesale food market in the city.

Beijing had previously gone 50 days without local transmission of coronavirus until this latest outbreak at the huge Xinfadi market where around 10,000 people work.

State-run media say the virus was found on a chopping board used for portioning imported salmon - but is not clear how that became infected.

The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation say that there is no credible evidence linking the outbreak to imported food products and that the evidence points to cross-contamination from a local source.

They added that scientific studies show that salmon can neither be infected with, nor spread, coronavirus.

Image source, Getty Images

When pupils return to Scotland's schools from 11 August they will experience a new term like no other.

From the playground to the classroom, everything will look and feel different.

BBC Scotland asked each of the country's 32 local authorities about their plans for 2020/21.

Read more here.

Nicola Sturgeon will be joined by Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop at today's coronavirus briefing, which begins at 12.30pm.

The economy secretary can expect a number of questions from journalists on unemployment, after it emerged today Scotland's unemployment rate is now the highest among all the UK nations.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) report said unemployment in Scotland for people over 16 was 4.6%, compared with a UK rate of 3.9%.

Also at today's Scottish government coronavirus briefing will be Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith.

Image source, Getty Images

Nine in 10 pubs could face closure if the two-metre social distance rule is not relaxed, the sector's representative body has warned.

A survey conducted by the Scottish Beer & Pub Association found a majority of landlords are concerned about their financial viability unless the guidance is reviewed.

It warns this will potentially put 23,600 jobs at risk.

Pubs and other hospitality businesses have been told to prepare to reopen from 15 July.

The UK and Scottish governments have said the current 2-metre rule is best of the best-available scientific evidence, and is needed to ensure the virus continues to be suppressed.

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Many vets in Scotland are opening up for more routine work, but a return to normal "is a long way off yet", says BBC Radio Scotland's resident vet.

"There's more practices starting to figure out how to do more routine vaccinations and routine neutering," Ross Allan says.

"Certainly, us as a practice, have opened up our branch practices again as of this week and we are starting to see people for more routine work.

"At the same time, we are still doing social distancing and minimising people coming into the practices, triaging over the phone and doing video calls. Things are moving on a bit, but a long way to go."

Scotland's social security agency may provide support for those struggling to meet funeral costs after the usual deadline.

Applications for funeral support payments normally have to be made within six months of the funeral.

But Social Security Scotland has encouraged people who have been unable to apply within that time due to Covid-19 to still do so.

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Photographs of crowds of people ignoring social distancing rules outside shops in England yesterday will do little to help attract consumers back and restore confidence, a retail expert tells BBC Radio Scotland.

Kate Hardcastle also witnessed first hand staff members failing to adhere to their own shops' guidelines.

She says that, despite queues outside many stores yesterday, footfall remained "quite low" and suggests that the public remains concerned about returning to crowded areas - and about hygiene and safety measures - following the lockdown resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

"They have just been told we are going to have the worst recession in 300 years, so it doesn't make people think they should rush out and buy things they don't really need," she adds.

Ms Hardcastle realises Scottish retailers will be desperate to follow after a decade of change during which there has been a rise in online selling that has "seen a take off during the lockdown".

However, she says that there is an extra challenge from the "unique phasing in Scotland and where shops are trying to figure out where you fit in the boundary between phase two and phase three".

The number of excess deaths in the UK since the coronavirus outbreak began has reached 64,402.

This morning's figures from the Office for National Statistics show 58,693 excess deaths in England and Wales between March 21 and June 5.

It follows the release of figures from Scotland and Northern Ireland last week. All these figures are based on death registrations.

• In graphs: Coronavirus in the UK
• Your tributes to those who have died

The weekly death registrations in the UK have fallen closer to the five-year average after spiking in spring.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

The Lord Advocate highlights virtual summary trials have taken place in Grampian and the Highlands and Islands, which are currently being evaluated.

He also expects fatal accident inquiries to be able to take place virtually later this year.

However Mr Wolffe says he is "sceptical" about managing solemn trials entirely virtually. He says technology could be used where appropriate, such as to take evidence.

He says he has "no doubt" that technology will continue to be used more widely throughout the pandemic recovery phase, and also support a move to different ways of working afterwards.