First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms 18,264 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of five from yesterday.

785 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case, with nine being treated in intensive care (eight fewer than yesterday).

4,080 people have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for the virus since 5 March.

One person who tested positive has died, taking the total to 2,487 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

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Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce whether Scotland will relax its 2m social distancing rule at today's Scottish government briefing.

The first minister is due to receive updated scientific advice which will form the basis of her decision.

Many pubs, restaurants and other businesses want the distance reduced before they reopen later this month.

There has also been speculation that the advice on wearing face coverings in public could be toughened.

You can watch or listen to the briefing here with us and we'll bring you extensive coverage and reaction to the announcements.

It begins at 12.30pm.

Nicola Sturgeon dismisses the suggestion by UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps that the devolved governments have held up Boris Johnson's plans for air bridges between countries.

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Dozens of countries will be exempt from a travel quarantine from Monday, UK government sources have indicated.

Currently, most people arriving into the UK from anywhere apart from the Republic of Ireland have to self-isolate for two weeks.

Just two people have so far been fined by the UK Border Force for breaking quarantine rules.

• Read more here
• Johnson 'astonished' by idea of Scottish quarantine
• A heated debate over cross-border quarantine

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

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Hospitality businesses in Skye were "getting quite excited" by the level of bookings as they prepare to reopen from 15 July - only to be brought back down to earth by suggestions there might be quarantining at the border.

Simon Cousins, from the island's tourism marketing organisation Skye Connect, tells BBC Radio Scotland: "That resulted in many of those bookings being cancelled."

Urging "clarity and consistency" over measures to ease the lockdown, he thinks a reduction in the 2m social distancing rule would be welcomed by businesses.

A Skye Connect survey found that 35% of marine tour operators, 25% of arts and crafts businesses, 22% of hotels and 17% of restaurant owners said they would not be viable if the rule was maintained. The vast majority of the rest said they did not know if their business would be viable.

However, Mr Cousins stresses that: "We only want to open up our industry when the scientists say it is safe to do so. We need to take the community with us. It's not just about businesses, it is not just about visitors."

He points out that Skye "was rocked by the Home Farm care home outbreak" and that the island's community "has really embraced all the rules on social distancing".

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

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Scotland has been praised by the World Health Organization for the way it has adhered to the rules needed to suppress the virus - but also warned not to think it has won the battle.

Agency spokeswoman Dr Margaret Harris tells BBC Scotland: "The Scottish people have done fantastically well. They really have followed what needs to be done, but we've got a huge pressure of the virus around the world.

"This virus is very transmissible. It's very good at coming back.

"When you get your gold medal, you want to celebrate. But it's get your gold medal but keep on doing what you did to get it."

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• 3 July - Five mile travel distance relaxed, most self-catering holiday homes and second homes can be used
• 6 July - Outdoor hospitality such as beer gardens can reopen
• 10 July - People can meet in extended groups outdoors and with two other households indoors
• 13 July - Shopping centres can reopen, organised outdoor contact sports for children can resume, dentists can reopen for most routine care
• 15 July - Pubs, restaurants and all holiday accommodation can reopen, as can hairdressers, barbers, museums, cinemas, libraries and childcare

These are all indicative dates: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's route map - indicative dates for the remainder of Phase 2 and early Phase 3, external

The first minister is expected to confirm some of these dates today, from 12.30pm.

You can watch or listen to the briefing with us here on this live page, where we'll provide extensive coverage of the announcements.

• Read more about the lockdown easing timeline here

Aberdeen are "increasingly hopeful" that 7,500 fans may be allowed at games at Pittodrie by the end of September.

The Scottish Premiership clubs were briefed by national clinical director Jason Leitch on Wednesday, ahead of the scheduled 1 August start to the season.

And Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack believes clubs may now only have "a few games behind closed doors - four home games takes us through September".

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

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The fact that members of the public find it difficult to keep to 2m social distancing never mind 1m is part of the reason why face coverings could become mandatory in Scotland, a World Health Organization spokesperson tells BBC Radio Scotland.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon could combine a reduction in the social distancing rule with stricter face covering requirements when she holds her lunchtime briefing today.

Dr Margaret Harris says evidence from many countries shows that "people genuinely struggle, especially in situations where it is impossible like public transport," to maintain a social distance.

"Remember the virus is passed by droplets that come out of your mouth while talking, coughing or sneezing, so if you have a face covering, you are limiting the passing of those droplets to the next person," she says.

"None of us go out and about if we think we are ill, but the problem with this virus is that, just before you get symptoms, you may have quite a bit of virus in your mouth and nose. Unknowingly, you might give it to someone else and that's a really important thing to understand."

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

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A timely reminder of why the World Health Organization recommends a social distance of "at least 1m", external has been provided by a spokesperson for the United Nations agency.

Dr Margaret Harris tells BBC Radio Scotland: "What we're really saying is no less than 1m."

She points out that, after a systematic review of scientific studies, of previous Sars viral outbreaks and now of Covid-19, "what we've seen is, at less than 1m, your risk really goes up".

"You really don't want people closer than 1m, but if you can do more than that, great," she says. "Also your risk reduces as you go greater than 1m.

"We would like people further than 1m, but we understand that the reality is that even at 2m people are probably staying 1m. No less than 1m the science is saying.

"The crucial thing is that it is not just about distancing. It's a bunch of stuff - it's about hand washing, it's about not touching your mouth, nose and eyes. That's how it gets in."

1. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's route map - indicative dates for the remainder of Phase 2 and early Phase 3, external

• Easing lockdown rules in Scotland: BBC Scotland article: What will change next - and when?

2. Test and Protect, external

If you have Covid-19 symptoms go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test

3. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.

4. Coronavirus (COVID-19): shielding support and contacts, external

5. Support for those at high COVID-19 risk:, external

The helpline is 0800 111 4000

6. Clear Your Head, external: It's ok to not feel yourself right now, here's some tips to help get you through it.people through the pandemic.

Image source, PA Media

Glasgow nail salon owner Tammy Koslowski says she will be making face masks mandatory for customers as well as staff when her business reopens even if they are not made compulsory by the Scottish government.

And she believes the beauty industry has been left behind unnecessarily by not having a firm date for reopening, unlike hairdressers and barbers.

"We always wear masks and gloves already and we can put these measures in place more than pubs, restaurants and hotels yet they are opening on 15 July too," Ms Koslowski says.

"We are making it mandatory anyway. We are making it a locked door policy - appointments only and you can only enter with a face covering. We will be providing our own disposable ones. It would make me feel safer if other places did that too."

Ms Koslowski has concerns about making the experience safe for both employees and customers.

"The whole beauty industry has ground to a halt and we want a change because we are fed up and want our businesses to start running again, but at the end of the day it is a public health crisis, the virus isn't going away and it is a bit soon potentially," she adds.

The Scottish government FACTS campaign calls on people to:

• 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

Image source, Reuters

US President Donald Trump, long opposed to wearing a face covering in public, says he is "all for masks" and they make him look like the Lone Ranger.

Mr Trump also maintained that face coverings do not need to become mandatory to curb Covid-19's spread.

He again predicted the infection would "disappear," as the US hit a new record high of 52,000 virus cases in a day.

His remarks to Fox News come a day after a top Republican called on Mr Trump to wear a mask as an example.

Read more here.

Image source, Reuters

There is a trade union call today for special measures to protect jobs in the aerospace industry.

The global decline in orders and maintenance due to the economic crisis has seen companies announcing job cuts, including Rolls-Royce engines in Renfrewshire, and the cluster of specialist firms around Prestwick Airport.

The Unite union cites a study it commissioned into the significance of aerospace to the Scottish economy, at a third of a billion pounds by value and nearly 8,000 directly employed workers.

Scottish organiser Pat Rafferty says that without intervention by UK and Scottish governments, the sector risks being "critically damaged".