Summary

  • Face coverings are now compulsory on public transport including buses, trains, trams and aircraft

  • A group advising Scottish ministers on how to repair the economic crisis caused by coronavirus has called for a jobs guarantee for 16 to 25-year-olds

  • No new deaths, confirmed by a test, have been registered in the last 24 hours in Scotland. There are currently 15 patients with coronavirus in ICU

  • Boris Johnson is to hold talks on relaxing the 2m distancing rule in England

  • A plan to take the contact details of those visiting bars and restaurants is being considered as part of the opening of hospitality

  • From today dental practices are able to see patients with urgent care needs

  • Places of worship are also reopening for individual worship and professional sport can resume behind closed doors

  1. UK government daily briefing under way...published at 17:08 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    UK Health Secretary Matt HancockImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock

    The UK government daily briefing is being led by UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

    He is joined by Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer for England.

    You can follow live updates here.

  2. Face coverings are mandatory on all public transport nowpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

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  3. UK should borrow £90bn and give £6bn to Scotlandpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    The economic recovery group called for the Scottish government to have “greater autonomy” to stimulate the economy through borrowing.

    Under the current fiscal framework, the Scottish government can only borrow up to 0.3% of GDP – about £450m.

    CashImage source, Getty Images

    Benny Higgins tells Drivetime this amount is a “drop in the ocean” in the context of the economic crisis caused by coronavirus.

    He says there are two options to resolve this:

    1. The UK government could agree to change the fiscal rules, though Mr Higgins suggests this is unlikely to happen quickly enough.
    2. Or the UK government could borrow the money, taking advantage of current low interest rates, and give a share to the devolved governments – which Mr Higgins believes is a more likely option.

    Drawing parallels with Germany, which has recently released 4% of its GDP for economic recovery, he suggests the UK should borrow £90bn, with £6bn of this to come to Scotland.

  4. Pub customers in Scotland could be asked for contact detailspublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    PubImage source, PA Media

    Pub and restaurant customers in Scotland could be required to give contact details as part of post-lockdown measures,First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

    The move would mean people could be alerted if they come into close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus.

    The hospitality sector looks set to reopen in the coming weeks with strict social distancing rules.

    Sturgeon confirmed that trace-and-protect guidelines could be enforced. "It is something that may very well be necessary," she said.

    In England, an announcement on the reopening of hospitality sector is expected on Tuesday.

    You can read more about what pubs, bars and clubs might be like after lockdown here.

  5. 'We’re facing into the biggest crisis of our lifetimes'published at 16:37 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    The economic recovery group recommended the Scottish government should move to save important companies from collapse by buying stakes in them.

    The group's chair Benny Higgins explains this should not just be larger companies, given over 40% of Scotland’s private sector workforce work in small businesses.

    He expects the government will want to protect a small number of large firms, but it will also be necessary to open a dialogue with banks and investors to pick which other business are supported to survive.

    Sadly not all companies will, Mr Higgins adds.

    Quote Message

    If banks and government can get together to understand where the right places to invest to maintain sectors that can be the hallmarks of Scotland in the future, then they should do it. But none of this is easy. We’re facing into the biggest crisis of our lifetimes.”

    Benny Higgins, Economic adviser

  6. In Pictures: What does lifting of restrictions look like?published at 16:35 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Rev Peter Sutton makes preparations to allow space for private prayer in the Memorial Chapel at St Cuthbert's Parish Church in Edinburgh. Social distancing measures have been put in place at the church, including hand hygiene stations and a one way system.Image source, PA MEDIA
    Image caption,

    Rev Peter Sutton makes preparations to allow space for private prayer in the Memorial Chapel at St Cuthbert's Parish Church in Edinburgh. Social distancing measures have been put in place at the church, including hand hygiene stations and a one way system.

    Passengers and staff must now wear face coverings on public transportImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Passengers and staff must now wear face coverings on public transport

    Staff at Ikea were on hand to help customers navigate the store's new approach following the lifting of restrictionsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Staff at Ikea were on hand to help customers navigate the store's new approach following the lifting of restrictions

    More coronavirus lockdown restrictions have been eased in Scotland with more places reopening - see more pictures here.

  7. Recession is unavoidable says economic adviserpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    “I don’t think there was any avoiding a recession,” Benny Higgins tells Drivetime.

    The chair of the group advising Scottish ministers on how to repair the economic crisis caused by coronavirus adds: “As we progress, I think medical science and social science have to play their part in understanding when we can get schools back to normal and when we can get people back to work in Scotland.”

    Tourists
    Image caption,

    Mr Higgins says the tourism sector will need particular support

    Mr Higgins warns unemployment could reach 12-13% in Scotland before long and therefore interventions are required.

    In particular he says tourism and hospitality – who have taken a “dreadful knock” in the crisis – will need support of the next few years to ensure they continue to thrive, he says.

    But he also says some sectors not impacted by the crisis but no less important to Scotland’s economic future will need support too.

  8. Scottish firm to manufacture vaccinepublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    SymbiosisImage source, Google

    A Scottish life-sciences company is to manufacture a vaccine being trialled to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca recently announced a licensing agreement with Oxford University to make and distribute the vaccine known as AZD-1222.

    Symbiosis, which employs a hundred staff in its Stirling headquarters, will provide manufacturing capacity.

    The first doses should be available by the end of the year.

  9. Lockdown in Scotland: What is changing today?published at 16:14 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    HorseboxImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Horse-boxes arrive at Ayr for Scotland's first meeting back since the resumption of racing

    • Public transport: Face coverings are mandatory on buses, trains, trams, planes, taxis and private hire cabs, as well as enclosed areas on ferries.
    • Dentists are able to see patients with urgent care needs from Monday.
    • Places of worship reopen - but only for individual prayer, not communal worship.
    • Professional sport can resume - Horse racing is under way at Ayr
    • The construction industry will be able to move to the next phase of its restart plan

    Find out here what else you cand do during phase 2 -and when.

  10. Call for new jobs 'guarantee' for young Scotspublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Youn mechaniImage source, Thinkstock

    A group advising Scottish ministers on how to repair the economic crisis caused by coronavirus has called for a jobs guarantee for 16 to 25-year-olds.

    The panel led by former Tesco Bank boss Benny Higgins, currently being interviewed on Drivetime, has published a list of recommendations for economic recovery.

    They called for a nation-wide scheme to offer at least two years of "secure employment" to young people, to avoid "long-term scarring" of a generation.

    Mr Higgins said Scotland must "create jobs at an unprecedented rate".

    The report also calls for a "significant increase" in infrastructure investment, particular in digital technologies, and targeted measures to support the hospitality and tourism industries.

  11. Coming up on Drivetime... an interview with Benny Higginspublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Benny HigginsImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Benny Higgins

    Benny Higgins will be interviewed on Drivetime very shortly.

    He has been chairing the government's advisory panel on economy recovery, which has today published 25 recommendations.

    One of these is for a jobs guarantee for 16 to 25-year-olds. Mr Higgins said this would offer at least two years of "secure employment" to young people, to avoid "long-term scarring" of a generation.

    The report also calls for a "significant increase" in infrastructure investment, particularly in digital technologies, and targeted measures to support the hospitality and tourism industries.

    Listen to his interview on this live page or BBC Radio Scotland at 16:05.

  12. Fifteen new deaths in the UKpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    The number of daily coronavirus deaths in the UK has dropped to its lowest level since mid-March, according to the latest government figures.

    The Department for Health and Social Care said there had been 15 new deaths, external recorded in the past 24 hours.

    In total, 42,647 have died with cornavirus in the UK, with 305,289 people testing positive.

  13. 'People keep asking when they can sit in the restaurant'published at 15:46 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Angie Brown
    Edinburgh and East reporter

    Mohammed Parvez said his usual diners have not been visiting his restaurant for takeawaysImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Mohammed Parvez said his usual diners have not been visiting his restaurant for takeaways

    Some restaurant owners in Edinburgh say they have been coming under pressure from customers who want to have a sit-in meal.

    The businesses have been feeling the impact of only being able to open as takeaways during the lockdown.

    Bars and restaurants in England areexpected to open their doors again from 4 July, while the hospitality sector in Scotland has been told toprepare to reopen on 15 July.

    Mohammed Parvez, 55, is the owner of the 42-seat Indian restaurant Rannaghor in Edinburgh, which reopened as a takeaway two weeks after the start of lockdown.

    He said people "keep asking me when they can sit in the restaurant.

    Read more here.

  14. Horse racing leads the way as sport returns - behind closed doorspublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Racing at Ayr is back todayImage source, PA Media

    And they're off... Horse racing has resumed at Ayr this afternoon.

    There are no spectators at the course, with many safety protocols in place, including a requirement on the horses travelling to meetings on the day of racing.

    There will be physical distancing, medical screening and a range of measures to reduce the risk of requiring use of NHS resources.

    Horse racing has been on hold in Scotland since Kelso on 16 March.

    Further flat meetings are set to take place at Hamilton and Musselburgh this month, while the resumption of jump racing will take place at Perth on 21 July.

  15. Scottish Borders Council recovery will be 'very long and difficult'published at 15:32 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Borders councilImage source, Jim Barton

    A council has warned of a "very long and difficult" recovery process following the coronavirus pandemic.

    A report to the local authority in the Scottish Borders, externalhas estimated the adverse financial impact at more than £15m before any additional support.

    It has also outlined an early fall in council tax payments to the authority of £600,000.

    It warned that if that continued for the rest of the financial year it could cost the council £7.2m.

    Read more.

  16. Professional sport is back from today...published at 15:30 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

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  17. Key points from the first minister's daily briefingpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    Missed Nicola Sturgeon's daily briefing? Here are the highlights.

    • A group advising Scottish ministers on the economic crisis, led by former Tesco Bank boss Benny Higgins, calls for a jobs guarantee for 16 to 25-year-olds
    • Mr Higgins tells the briefing the economic recovery must create jobs and focus on the climate emergency
    • There have been no confirmed Covid deaths in the last 24 hours, but another 14 people have tested positive.
    • Ms Sturgeon confirms that the Deputy First Minister John Swinney will make a statement on the next steps on reopening schools to Holyrood on Tuesday.
    • She says the health minister will reveal more details about testing later in the week, and suggests testing in schools may be part of a package to get pupils back into classrooms full-time.
  18. UK death toll stands at 42,647published at 15:08 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

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    The number of daily coronavirus deaths in the UK has dropped to its lowest level since mid-March, according to the latest government figures.

    The Department for Health and Social Care said there had been 15 new deaths, external recorded in the past 24 hours. None of these were recorded in Scotland.

    In total, 42,647 have died with coronavirus in the UK, with 305,289 people testing positive.

  19. Young people don't deserve to suffer - Higginspublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    "There has never been a more important time to prioritise," says Benny Higgins in response to The Scotsman asking why his recommendation for a job guarantee scheme is limited to those aged 16-25.

    "One of our big fears is the long-term scarring of that age group," he says. "They don't deserve to suffer and we think this intervention can make a difference."

    Nicola Sturgeon adds: "I couldn't agree more. We can't allow this generation of young people to bear the long-term legacy of what we have lived through in these past months."

    Benny HigginsImage source, Tesco Bank/PA
  20. 'We care passionately about the health of business'published at 14:49 British Summer Time 22 June 2020

    "We care passionately about the health of business," says Nicola Sturgeon, when the Financial Times alludes to a less than smooth relationship between the Scottish government and private enterprise.

    "Businesses are crucial for our economy and the economy is crucial for our ambitions for a fairer more equal society with strong public services," stresses the first minister.

    However, she does concede that there is work to be done if there is a perception that her administration is not business-friendly.

    Ms Sturgeon adds that it would be wrong to hope things simply bounce back, saying: "If we come out of this thinking we can just pick up where we left off, then we are missing an opportunity to do things better."

    Construction site in GlasgowImage source, Getty Images