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What will happen if a request for additional borrowing powers is rejected by the UK government, asks PA.

The first minster says that Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has put forward a "very reasonable and well considered argument" to extend those powers, and adds that her government will continue to make that case and says she is hoping for a "constructive response".

She adds that she hopes the issue will receive cross-party support at Holyrood.

Not for the first time, Nicola Sturgeon says she does not have a crystal ball as she stresses that she cannot say with certainty what the virus level will be as we get closer to the 11 August return date for schools.

This comes as Bauer say working parents are worried that a decision on how that return will look may not come until as late as 30 July, as suggested by Education Secretary John Swinney in an interview this morning.

We must continue to plan carefully to keep the number of infections low, repeats the first minister.

ITV Border also press the issue of teacher safety, highlighting union fears over doing away with social distancing.

The first minister dismisses the notion of any U-turn on policy, insisting that plans have been able to change due to the drop in infection rates.

Scotland’s biggest teaching union has accused the government of making a “political” decision on the reopening of schools in August, without seeking the agreement of the education recovery group.

In correspondence to members, EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan expressed concern about the safety of removing physical distancing requirements in schools.

Education Secretary John Swinney announced earlier this week that schools should aim to reopen full-time with no physical distancing.

Mr Flanagan said the union was “not convinced” that it would not be required between pupils and was “absolutely certain” that keeping a distance between pupils and teachers was “essential”.

The union has also called for voluntary testing of teachers to be rolled out and sought guidance other mitigation which measures may be required, such as face masks or screens.

It has urged the government to provide a “clear articulation” on what sufficient virus suppression would look like, in terms of the transmission rate, new infection rates and deaths, before schools can safely reopen from 11 August.

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The first minister says safety has always been the main focus when STV ask about concerns over teacher safety as schools return.

Nicola Sturgeon says that while it is right to plan for a full-time return for pupils in August, she stresses that it is contingent on the virus being suppressed

A lot of work has to go into turning that ambition into a reality, she says.

The Education Recovery group will consider all the necessary safety measures, including testing and distancing, over the summer weeks.

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The Scottish government announces a phased reintroduction of family visiting in care homes, as well as the resumption of communal activities for residents.

Care home residents will be able to receive visitors outside from 3 July, provided their home meets strict criteria, with infection control measures remaining in place.

Adult Care Homes Visiting Guidance, external published today confirms that the next phase of visiting will include outdoor meetings with a single nominated visitor and that face coverings must be worn for the visit’s duration.

Currently, only essential visits, including those involving end of life care are permitted.

The guidance builds up to a fourth and final phase of reintroduction, which will include controlled indoor visits and wider use of communal areas by residents, with appropriate measures still being observed.

A care home will only be able to permit visiting or relax arrangements for communal activities if they have been COVID-free throughout the pandemic or if all affected residents have fully recovered and no residents have had symptoms for 28 days.

The first minister says she understands how difficult it has been for families not being able to see loved ones in care homes when BBC Scotland's Hazel Martin asks about the support that will be provided for those who have been isolating for so long.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman adds that the clinical and professional advisory group that has devised the phased introduction on visiting, will also provide guidance on the rehabilitation of residents, in terms of their physical and mental health wellbeing.

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Scotland’s chief nursing officer Fiona McQueen urges people to act carefully as more choices are available to them with the easing of lockdown.

She highlights face coverings are mandatory on public transport but she recommends only travelling when a journey is essential.

She also recommends wearing a face covering in shops, but adds this is no substitute for the 2m rule.

Lifting lockdown does not mean people should be reckless, Ms McQueen says, and she urges people to avoid crowded places. She highlights the surest way of not being asked the self-isolate through Test and Protect is to continue following the rules.

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One nominated person will be able to visit a loved one in a care home from 3 July, Scotland’s health secretary announces.

The Scottish government has published guidance, external on the phased return of visiting to care homes.

Only care homes where there have been no cases of Covid-19 for 28 days will be able to permit visitors, and the person must wear a face covering and observe physical distancing measures.

Jeane Freeman says the move can be made due to “significant progress” in tackle Covid-19, including an improvement in the number of infections in care homes at the current time.

Nicola Sturgeon stresses again people must follow the five pieces of advice in FACTS: They are:

• Face coverings in enclosed spaces
• Avoid crowded places
• Clean hands and surfaces regularly
• Two metre distancing; and
• Self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms

If we all comply with these we are playing our part in staying safe, protecting others and saving lives, adds the first minister.

She reiterates the Scottish government advice that you can find at NHS Inform.

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The first minister says later this afternoon the first meeting of the new Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce will take place.

It will bring together more than 30 people with experience in the tourism sector and will look at:

• the promotion of staycations
• the support of training and skills
• how conferences and events sector can recover in due course
• the funding support available to tourism businesses

Businesses in the tourism industry have been told they can begin to reopen from 15 July.

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The first minister says updated guidance for the retail sector will be published tomorrow.

Nicola Sturgeon says customers, as well as retailers, have a responsibility to prevent the spread of infection.

Nicola Sturgeon says she wants to remind us what restrictions will be eased from Monday:

• While non-essential offices and call centres must remain closed, factories, laboratories and warehouses will be able to reopen - subject to strict physical distancing, hygiene and health and safety guidance
• Businesses are being advised to arrange staggered work times for their staff, agree flexible working where possible, and ensure that it is safe for their employees to get to work

• Outdoor markets will also be able to open, as will outdoor sports courts and playgrounds.
• Zoos and garden attractions will also be able to open again, although you should not travel more than five miles for leisure - and tickets should be bought in advance.
• Restrictions on moving house will be lifted
• Marriages and civil partnerships will be allowed outdoors, with limited numbers, and registration offices will reopen for essential business.
• Stores of all sizes will be able to reopen - but only if they have outdoor entrances and exits. Indoor shopping centres must remain closed for now, except where they contain essential shops

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The first minister warns a resurgence in Covid-19 cases could cause postponement of reopening plans, or even seeing some restrictions reimposed.

"We must take care and we must adopt the right mitigating measures at all times."

The basic hygiene measures are even more important now, she adds.

Nicola Sturgeon stresses that all the indicative dates for reopening parts of the economy she gave yesterday are dependent on continued progress against the virus.

The first minister accepts businesses are anxious to open up and start trading again.

This must be accompanied by an understanding of the risks we still face, she warns.

The first minister calls for ongoing vigilance and she adds her main worry is people start believing the virus has gone away.

She warns against dropping our guard as it would be a "very costly mistake, as the virus is very unlikely to go away of its own accord".

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The first minister says the latest estimate of the R number in Scotland will be published later this afternoon.

It currently stands between 0.6 to 0.8 and the modelling work suggests this has not changed.

Nicola Sturgeon says she predicts the estimate for the number of infected people in Scotland will fall today from 2,900 to about 2,000.

All of these figures show the progress we are making in the fight against Covid, she explains, adding this has allowed yesterday's announcment about lockdown easing.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 18,196 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of five from yesterday. This is the second day new cases have been in single figures - the first time this has happened since 11 March, she says.

826 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down 54), with 18 being treated in intensive care (down five).

4,034 people have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for the virus since 5 March.

A further two people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,482 deaths in Scotland by that measure.