Six more people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, taking the total in Scotland by that measure to 2,470
The UK's coronavirus alert level is downgraded from four to three
SNP MSP and former health secretary Alex Neil criticises the plan to restart schools in August with blended learning, saying it is "just not acceptable"
Education Secretary John Swinney wants urgent talks with a group of newly-qualified teachers concerned about their employment prospects
Analysis shows people of South Asian origin are most likely to die from virus in hospital in Scotland, England and Wales
Pandemic has contributed to a sharp rise in number chasing each job vacancy in disadvantaged areas
Image source, Getty ImagesLinkScotland has entered the the second phase of the easing lockdown restrictions.
Over the coming weeks shops will start to reopen, work will resume in certain industries, and some of the rules about meeting other people are being relaxed.
But not all the changes will take place at the same time - so what can you do in Phase 2, and when?
"This is no ordinary economic downturn", stresses Fiona Hyslop, the cabinet secretary for the economy, who says her government has been "working tirelessly to keep businesses afloat".
The gradual reopening of businesses is only possible because of compliance, adds Ms Hyslop, who says public health guidance remains absolutely central as we move into phase two of the route map out of lockdown.
In addition to yesterday's announcements, she explains that the government will continue to publish detailed guidance for different sectors.
She finishes by revealing that the remainder of the nation's manufacturing can restart from 29 June - if they can meet all of the safety criteria.
This is a significant boost, she says, with some 180,000 people employed in manufacturing, with very few able to work from home.
Nicola Sturgeon says the Scottish government is launching a new public awareness campaign called FACTS to remind people of the key measures still required.
These are:
The first minister says these facts will help all of us stay safe and ensure we can help protect each other as well.
"Complying with all of that in this next phase is really critical in keeping the virus under control as we start to move back to normal," she adds.
Quote MessageIf we all keep doing the right things, I am more optimistic than I have been in a long time that we are firmly on track to getting normality back in our lives."
Nicola Sturgeon
The first minister says the virus in Scotland is "firmly in retreat", with the "stay at home" message replaced by "stay safe".
Some of the supporting evidence for the move into phase two is being published today and ahead of the weekend Nicola Sturgeon reminds us of the changes announced yesterday.
She highlights careful changes to those shielding, with those not living in care now allowed to exercise.
She also recaps the guidance around the formation of newly "extended household groups" - and adds that she hopes to announce further changes to those "support bubbles" soon.
The changes won't benefit everyone but it will combat loneliness for a significant number, says the first minister.
"The best thing to do is continue to err on the side of caution," is the message from Ms Sturgeon.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 18,104 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 27 from yesterday.
A total of 904 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down 25), with 19 being treated in intensive care (down four).
A further six people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,470 deaths in Scotland by that measure.
A total of 3,961 inpatients have been discharged from hospital since 5 March.
Image source, Getty ImagesNicola Sturgeon will update us shortly on the latest developments around coronavirus in Scotland, after the country moved into phase two of lockdown easing measures.
The first minister will be joined at the briefing by Economy, Fair Work and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop and National Clinical Director Jason Leitch.
You can follow the briefing right here by clicking on the play icon above at 12.30 or watch it on the BBC Scotland channel.
Simon Gompertz
Personal finance correspondent
Banks have been told to give even more time to millions of people struggling with credit as a result of the coronavirus.
Credit card, store card, catalogue credit and personal loan customers will be able to ask for a further three-month deferral of repayments and interest. The help was first given in April.
Although the deferrals have been called payment holidays, the money will have to be paid back after the end of the deferral period.
So the financial regulator, the FCA, says if borrowers can resume their payments they should, to avoid getting into more serious difficulty later on.
Current account users have been offered interest-free overdrafts of up to £500. These have been extended for three months as well – and applications can now be made up to 31 October.
Banks have until Monday to comment on the plans, which will be implemented soon after.
Image source, Getty ImagesOperators of leisure and sports facilities in the Highlands and Islands have begun preparations for reopening later this year.
Some activities might be permitted under the third phase of lockdown restriction-easing in Scotland.
Western Isles authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said it was in touch with sports clubs about how they might be able to resume. The comhairle said activities would have to be booked in advance, and social distancing measures would have to be adhered to.
High Life Highland, the charity running Highlands leisure facilities, said it was preparing for a phased resumption of activities.
It said numbers of people would have to be restricted and venues would have "thorough cleaning regimes".
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Corinne Hutton, a single mum and quadruple amputee who had a successful hand transplant in 2019, is another in the shielding group contemplating how the changes announced on Thursday will affect them.
She believes the fact she and her 11-year-old son can now meet outdoors with people from one other household is "a step in the right direction."
"Two weeks ago, I was really floored when Nicola Sturgeon announced 31 July was the end of lockdown for us," she told BBC Radio Scotland.
"I felt the guilt - my son is locked down because of me, and was only going to be allowed out just as the schools go back. That weighed quite heavily on me because he needs other people."
Corinne also works with Finding Your Feet,, external a group which supports families affected by amputation or limb absence.
"I know a lot of them will be nervous of this, nervous of stepping out again and putting themselves at risk,” she says.
"Caution isn’t my normal stance but I have done this for 15 weeks now, so I am not letting it go over something silly. Caution I think is the answer for everyone just now; just be sensible.”
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
People in the shielding group have seen their biggest change in months. They can now meet outdoors with people from one other household, but are advised to be extremely cautious, to stick to quiet areas and stay at least 2m from other people at all times.
In addition, people who live on their own or only with children under 18 can now form an extended household group.
Bev Park, whose 81-year-old mother has been shielding in isolation, has four children, aged from 16 down to six.
She now intends to visit her mother, but "still not go into her house if we can help it, but try to catch up in the garden, with minimal contact".
"It'll be nice for my six-year-old to hug her gran, sit next to her, do a puzzle, but we'll still be a bit cautious," she told BBC Radio Scotland.
"We're looking forward to having her over for Sunday roast, getting back to the normal stuff we used to do."
Image source, AFPHealth Secretary Matt Hancock says the change in the UK government's coronavirus alert level from four to three is "a big moment for the country" and shows that the government's plan is working.
The decision to reduce the threat level followed a recommendation by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, the chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said.
"There has been a steady decrease in cases we have seen in all four nations, and this continues," the medical officers said in a joint statement.
But they warned it "does not mean that the pandemic is over" and that "localised outbreaks are likely to occur".
Read more here.
Professor Jason Leitch answers your questions on the coronavirus...
Q: Our daughter lives in Newcastle with one other flat-mate. Can she visit us in Helensburgh under the new 'extended household groups' guidance?
A: Not yet, I'm afraid. The extended family units need to have one element of them living alone - or only with kids under 18. It's a first step to try and reduce loneliness.
Q: I am waiting for a colonoscopy after a bowel cancer screening test and I have heard absolutely nothing.
A: Each of the country's health boards has submitted a remobilisation plan around a set of priorities that we thought were most important. Urgent investigation for cancer or suspected cancer is on that list.
Image source, Science Photo LibraryYou need to have that procedure and I am confident that you should hear something in the next few weeks about how that will work out. We need to catch up with people who are waiting for the diagnostic test - they are top priority. And we need to catch up with three months of screening that has been missed.
If you don't hear soon, get in touch with your GP and they should be able to work it out.
Q: What are you looking forward to most as lockdown restrictions ease?
A: Father's Day. I haven't seen much of my parents since this all began. It looks like rain on Sunday unfortunately, so a little celebration in the garden tomorrow is the plan.
The UK's coronavirus alert level has been downgraded from four to three.
Under level three, the virus is now considered to be "in general circulation" and there could be a "gradual relaxation of restrictions".
Previously transmission was considered "high or rising exponentially".
Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland
Image source, EPAProfessor Jason Leitch, Scotland's National Clinical Director, answers your questions on the coronavirus...
Q: Will wearing face coverings on public transport be a policy forever?
A: No it will not. It's a layer of protection on top of hand-washing and social distancing. We are asking people to do it because we believe, from the evidence, that adding that extra element of protection will help us get out faster.
Q: When will care home residents be able to take part in more communal activities and when will visits be permitted in care homes and hospitals?
A: We are forming advice in the next few days over what that might look like but I can't give you any dates just now. It's so important for lots of families. Visits will probably be outdoors, initially, and probably named individuals, one person per resident for example.
There is some visiting in hospitals, end of life care, birth partners, those with dementia. We are hoping to open that up soon, but it will be gradual and again probably named individuals with appointments, wearing PPE.
Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland
Professor Jason Leitch answers your questions on the coronavirus...
Q: I drive from Scotland to France each year for a holiday. Will I be able to do that by next month?
A: You certainly can't do it tomorrow. It sounds like a simple problem but lots of things have to happen in parallel. It requires rules in different countries lining up. I'd be surprised if the quarantine arrangements in both countries had changed within that time scale.
They will get back to normal but we are not there yet.
Image source, PA MediaQ: Scotland is a country with lots of open space. Why is driving 15 miles up the road for a walk in the hills, where social distancing would be so easy, prohibited?
A: It's all about risk to the population. The individual risk to such a journey is pretty much zero. If we let everybody do it, people get the infection and people die. Population choices are harsh but these activities will all come back.
The five-mile limit is a guide. It's to illustrate that we really want you to be careful, particularly around trips that are for recreation and exercise. We decided that visiting family is more important and therefore the travel distance for doing that is a little more loose.
Image source, Getty ImagesPeople are being advised to stay local for leisure and recreation
Scotland enters the second phase of easing lockdown restrictions today.
Over the coming weeks shops will start to reopen, work will resume in certain industries, and some of the rules about meeting other people will be relaxed.
But not all the changes will take place at the same time - so what can you do in Phase 2, and when?
Read more here.
Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland
Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government, is continuing his stint on BBC Radio Scotland, answering questions from listeners.
Q: Schools in Northern Ireland will have a social distancing rule of one metre rather than two metres when they reopen in August. What do they know that we don't?
A: In a couple of weeks we will look again at the balance of risk inside educational establishments - and that will include distancing - but it must also include hand-washing, cough-etiquette etc.
Distance is relative; three inches is more dangerous than three metres, and two metres has been the compromise position for a lot of countries for this phase of the pandemic. That does not mean that it is set in stone.
When schools go back in August, I don't think they will look like they did in January but, over time, the advice will change. We don't know what the level of virus will be in August, but I'm hopeful that if we continue to follow the guidelines we will be in a better position then than we are now.
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Graeme Ogston
Tayside and Central Reporter
Image source, GoogleMrs Rennick is minister at Larbert West Parish Church
A church minister recovering from coronavirus say she gained a "new flock" online after lockdown forced the closure of her church building.
Rev Julie Rennick from Larbert and fellow minister Rev Dan Harper from Bridge of Allan were struck down by the virus more than two months ago.
Mr Harper stressed that "the buildings are shut, but the Church is open."
The Church of Scotland has welcomed the Scottish government's announcement that places of worship can reopen for individual prayer or contemplation from Monday.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt is the only ethnic group to have a raised risk of death in hospital and is partly due to high levels of diabetes.
The study is hugely significant as it assessed data from four-in-10 of all hospital patients with Covid-19.
The researchers said policies such as protecting people at work and who gets a vaccine may now need to change.
Read the full article here.