Summary

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reports that there were two more deaths due to Covid-19

  • For the second day on the run, new positive cases were in single figures

  • The R-number, which is the rate at which a person infects others, remains between 0.6 and 0.8

  • Care homes in Scotland that are free of coronavirus will be able to accept visitors from 3 July

  • Scotland's finance secretary formally requests new powers from Westminster to meet Covid challenge

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. Highland 'hit hardest' by Covid impact on UK councils

    Coronavirus has cost Highland Council more per head of population than any other UK local authority, according to BBC research.

    The cost of the infection to the council could run to £96.9m.

    That is the equivalent of £411 for every resident - the highest in the UK.

    Aberdeen is next with its potential worst-case shortfall of £82m the equivalent of £359 per resident.

    BBC council shortfall graph

  2. New powers 'critical' to Covid recovery says Scottish government

    Kate ForbesPA Media

    The Scottish government has asked for new financial powers from the UK Treasury to aid the coronavirus recovery.

    These include the ability to borrow up to £500m this year to deal with Covid-19 and flexibility to switch unused budget from capital projects to other spending.

    Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said the powers were "critical to our ability to support recovery".

    The move would be on a temporary basis and the request comes ahead of a meeting of finance ministers from the administrations in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK government on Friday.

  3. Good morning

    boyGetty Images

    Welcome to Thursday's live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland.

    To start things off, here is a round-up of the main headlines from yesterday.

    • Covid-19 registered deaths have fallen for the eighth week in a row
    • Up until 21 June, the total number of virus-linked fatalities stood at 4,119 in Scotland, with a further four in the last 24 hours
    • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the downward trend in cases and deaths means "more clarity on the path out of lockdown"
    • The hospitality sector, museums, libraries and hairdressers can fully open from 15 July. Shopping centres on 13 July
    • People in Scotland will be allowed to meet up with two other households indoors from 10 July
    • But Ms Sturgeon said these were "provisional" dates and is reliant on the virus remaining suppressed
    • Beer gardens can open on 6 July and outdoor organised sport can take place from 13 July. The five-mile travel limit will end on 3 July.
    • There is yet to be a planned date for theatres, bingo halls and indoor gyms
    • Swissport, which operates four Scottish airports, is set to cut more than 4,556 jobs - half of its UK workforce
    • The Fraser of Allander Institute predicted it will be at least 18 months before Scotland makes up the output lost in its deepest recession in living memory