Summary

  • Education Secretary John Swinney says if the virus continues to be suppressed schools will re-open fully from 11 August

  • Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she has sought advice on the two metre rule and that will be delivered to her on 2 July

  • Once she has looked at that she will consider making changes

  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the House of Commons that the two metre guidance will change to "one plus" on 4 July

  • Four more people - who had a positive test - have died with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours

  • Ms Sturgeon points out that 21 people are currently in ICU, but that contrasts with 221 on 12 April

  • Scotland's Chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith says antibody tests should not be offered "on-demand"

  1. WATCH AGAIN: 2m rule remains in place in Scotlandpublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

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  2. People in England allowed to meet another household indoorspublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson says from 4 July people in England will be allowed to meet with one other household at a time indoors, subject to social distancing.

    Mr Johnson says the meet-ups do not always have to be with the same household - but that only one household can meet one other at any time.

    These measures are not the same as the household bubble where distancing is not required, meaning family members who live apart can still not hug.

    The changes do not apply to Scotland.

  3. Pubs, restaurants and hotels can reopen in England from 4 Julypublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    From 4 July pubs and restaurants in England will be allowed to open both indoors and outdoors if they put in safety guidelines, including table service online.

    Other businesses allowed to reopen will be:

    • Hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites and caravan parks
    • Hair salons and barbers but with visors worn
    • Playgrounds, museums, galleries, theme parks, outdoor gyms and arcades, libraries, social clubs and community centres

    However nightclubs, spas, indoor soft play areas, bowling alleys, water parks, indoor gyms, nail bars, swimming pools and water parks will not be able to reopen at this stage.

    The changes do not apply to Scotland, which will make its own decisions at a later date.

  4. When could the 2m rule be relaxed in Scotland?published at 12:52 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

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  5. Education secretary to set out school reopening plans for Scotland this afternoonpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    girlImage source, Getty Images

    John Swinney is to make a statement at Holyrood on the next steps towards reopening schools, the first minister confirms.

    This will include support to help young people catch up on missed learning.

    The education secretary will set out where we aim to be by August when the new term begins.

  6. WATCH AGAIN: Further lockdown easing announcement tomorrowpublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

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  7. Boris Johnson relaxes 2-metre rule from 4 Julypublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 23 June 2020
    Breaking

    signImage source, Getty Images

    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a relaxing of the 2m-rule for England from 4 July.

    The other nations of the UK must make their own judgements, he said.

    Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that where it is possible people should keep to the social distance of 2 metres.

    But where it is not possible, they should keep to "one-metre plus", meaning they should remain one metre apart while taking measures to mitigate risk.

  8. Sturgeon thanks people for following the rules and saving livespublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    The first minister praises people who have been shielding.

    Most importantly more than 4,000 families have lost a loved one to this virus, with over half of the deaths in care homes, she adds.

    "I know the sorrow of that will live with me for ever."

    She says that is as nothing compared to the pain of bereaved families.

    At this three-month milestone she thanks everyone who has followed the rules as they have protected the NHS and undoubtedly saved lives, she points out.

  9. FM: 'At no point during this did our NHS come close to being overwhelmed'published at 12:44 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    glovesImage source, Getty Images

    The first minister says the reconfiguration of the NHS in Scotland prevented the service being inunndated.

    "At no point during this did our NHS come close to being overwhelmed," she says.

    The progress is a direct result of the public's efforts and sacrifices, she adds.

    The first minister points out health and social care workers have been "magnificent" and businesses have stepped up.

    "We have in the most trying circumstances seen the very best of Scotland."

  10. FM: 'Number of people in intensive care has fallen by more than 90%'published at 12:41 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    doctorImage source, Getty Images

    Nicola Sturgeon says three months ago Covid-19 was out of control and spreading exponentially, with a real prospect the NHS would be overwhelmed.

    The first minister says none of us knew how the country would cope.

    Today we are in a very different position, with hospital admissions - which once totalled 200 a day - are now in single figures, she adds.

    The first minister points out the number of people in ICU has fallen by more than 90%.

    She says one person dying is one too many, however there has been a sustained and significant decline in the number of deaths.

  11. FM: 'Very significant progress made' in suppressing viruspublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Nicola Sturgeon

    The first minister says today's statistics show very starkly the human cost of this virus.

    However, they also underline the very significant progress made in suppressing it.

    She points out it is now three months to the day since Scotland went into lockdown, "although for many of us it seems an awful lot longer than that."

    The first minister adds it's not over yet, the virus still poses a real dangerous threat and there is a lot more work to do.

    Quote Message

    There is no doubt that this has been one of the most challenging periods that our country has ever faced in the lifetimes of the vast majority of us.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  12. Further four deaths from Covid-19 in Scotlandpublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 18,182 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 12 from yesterday.

    865 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down two), with 21 being treated in intensive care (up six, all of which are suspected cases).

    3,995 people have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for the virus since 5 March.

    A further four people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,476 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

  13. Scottish government briefing about to begin...published at 12:28 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

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  14. Boris Johnson about to ease lockdown in Englandpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's much-anticipated announcement on the changes to England's coronavirus lockdown is about to get under way.

    Here's what to expect:

    • From 4 July, cinemas, museums and galleries closed since the middle of March will be able to reopen in England
    • From the same date, England's 2m social distancing rule is set to be reduced to 1m to enable pubs, restaurants, hotels and B&BS to reopen

    You can follow live updates here.

    The Scottish government will make a decision on reopening outdoor spaces at pubs and restaurants on or around 2 July.The hospitality sector in Scotland has been told to prepare to reopen on 15 July.

    Nicola Sturgeon has asked scientific advisers to review the circumstances in which the 2m rule might be reduced alongside "additional mitigations" here in Scotland.

  15. Coming up... FM's coronavirus briefingpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, AFP

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will deliver her usual coronavirus briefing at 12:30pm.

    She will today be joined by interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith.

    You can watch or listen live with us here, where we'll bring you extensive coverage.

  16. What are the plans for hospitality sector in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?published at 11:59 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    BeerImage source, Getty images

    The changes expected to be outlined by PM Boris Johnson from 12.30pm will only be for England. You can follow live updates here. Scotland and the other devolved nations have their own plans in place for the hospitality industry:

    As for the 2m distance rule - which is expected to be reduced to 1m in England later - it has already been cut to 1m for schools in Northern Ireland when they reopen in August.

    But apart from that, the 2m rule remains in place everywhere else. Nicola Sturgeon has asked scientific advisers to review the circumstances in which it might be reduced alongside "additional mitigations".

  17. Wildlife scientists examine the great 'human pause'published at 11:40 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    A bird is trackedImage source, MPIAB/MAXCINE/JACOB STIERLE
    Image caption,

    All over the world, some animals have been tracked throughout lockdown

    A UK-led team has launched an initiative to track wildlife before, during and after lockdown.

    The researchers' aim is to study what they have called the "anthropause" - the global-scale, temporary slowdown in human activity, which is likely to have a profound impact on other species.

    Measuring that impact, they say, will reveal ways in which we can "share our increasingly crowded planet".

    "There is a really valuable research opportunity here, one that's been brought about by the most tragic circumstances, but it's one we think we can't afford to miss," Prof Christian Rutz from the University of St Andrews told BBC News.

    Read more

  18. Cricketers can get back to nets next week...published at 11:37 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

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  19. Russell rejects call for rapid inquiry into first wave of Covid-19published at 11:24 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Scotland's constitution secretary says a public inquiry into the UK's response to coronavirus is "desirable".

    But Mike Russell warned against taking "energy and effort" away from suppressing the virus at the present time.

    Care homeImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    There has been more deaths in care homes than in hospitals in Scotland

    Asked whether a rapid inquiry into lessons from the first wave would be supported, he insists it is important not to "take our eye off the ball", pointing to second waves in other countries.

    Former Scottish secretary David Mundell highlights calls for a quick inquiry into care home deaths in Scotland specifically.

    Mr Russell replies the Scottish government is trying to learn as much as possible, but he reiterates his view that an inquiry could cause people to be "distracted" from the immediate pandemic response.

  20. 'Far too premature' to reduce 2m rule in Englandpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

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