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Face coverings are now compulsory in shops in Scotland.

The day before the new law came in we asked shoppers in Edinburgh if they have been wearing them already - and what they think about the new law.

Rich Fields told us he won't be covering his face.

"I'm out just now getting some last bits and bobs because I don't want to wear a mask, so I won't be back to the shops until it changes," the 52-year-old said.

Doctor Agnieszka Jana said wearing a mask was "becoming more of a habit".

"I'm carrying one in my pocket to go to the shops," she said.

Read more here.

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Referrals to police and local authorities from children’s charity the NSPCC have increased by 40% through lockdown.

The charity says children have been the hidden victims of the coronavirus crisis and have called for more detail from the Scottish government on how it will help children to recover.

In April, May and June, the NSPCC’s helpline averaged 161 referrals, compared to 114 in the three months prior to lockdown.

The main issues highlighted were parental behaviour, physical and emotional abuse, and neglect, with about 40% referred to local authorities or the police for further action.

The Scottish government says it is committed to ensuring all children and families who need additional support are able to access it, that youngsters on the child protection register have regular contact with social workers and that higher risk cases are prioritised.

BBC Radio Scotland

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National clinical director Jason Leitch has been answering questions from BBC Scotland listeners.

Q: When nurseries reopen how can the policy of not testing the under fives continue? Will we all have to lock down after a child in the room falls ill?

A: You highlight one of our big challenges; distinguishing the symptoms of this horrific disease from others that are not as life threatening.

We are working on appropriate testing for very small children. A cotton bud up the nose and in your tonsils can be quite distressing. Saliva testing would be much easier, but maybe not as reliable.

GPs will have to take an approach on what a kid presents with, but we need to remain cautious.

Q: We are being told to maintain social distancing, so why is contact sport being allowed for older children?

A: The 13 July contact sport announcement is hugely important for society and public health. There will be a physical distancing exemption only on the field of play. There will be no communal activity, no dressing rooms. We think it is a low risk way of getting that up and running for the under-18s.

We would much rather kids were playing in these organised, safer environments rather than breaking the rules in larger, unregulated groups.

BBC Radio Scotland

National clinical director Jason Leitch has been answering questions from BBC Scotland listeners.

Q: If people are thinking of going on holiday to a rental cottage, is there a risk of catching the virus from upholstery and carpets?

A: The risks are low but not zero. There is very clear guidance for cleaning for both homeowners and self catering and hotel owners. We would encourage them to do that even more thoroughly than they’ve done pre-Covid, hoovering soft furnishings and carpets. The virus doesn’t like being disturbed. You don’t have to wipe down everything with disinfectant if it’s a fabric, but if you wipe down leather and shiny surfaces and wood flooring as much as possible, then the risk is very low indeed. I'm confident rental property owners will do that; it's in their interest.

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Q: Would you fly on a plane to go on holiday?

A: I have no prospect of either being given time off by the first minister or getting any holiday to go on a plane. We have to be cautious. In order of priority, I'd suggest if you can, try to stay in Scotland. It keeps you a bit safer, there is definitely less risk and there is a benefit to Scotland’s economy,

But I completely understand our airline and tourist industry for overseas travel is really struggling, and I'm pleased we've been able to open up air bridges to some parts of the world.

The Scottish Premiership season will kick off on 1 August after receiving written approval from the Scottish government.

The Scottish FA confirmed the plan, which comes in the wake of the first minister announcing the move into phase three of the route out of lockdown.

The government has also confirmed that clubs can arrange friendly matches with immediate effect.

That is provided players are subject to weekly testing from 13 July.

Read more here.

BBC Radio Scotland

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Professor Jason Leitch is answering questions from BBC Scotland listeners.

Q: As a shielding person, I'm wondering when this will all be over and if I should be wearing a mask rather than a face covering

A: The route map for those shielding is basically the same process but just a little bit slower. For example, on 24 July we expect you will be able to meet up with two households indoors like everyone else can just now.

Don't worry about the difference between surgical masks and face coverings. A cotton covering will do just as well for what we are trying to do and don't worry too much about the airborne news from earlier this week - that's very early research.

Q: When I go to visit family or friends outside, should I still be taking my own flask and crockery?

A: We're asking people to use their common sense. As the freedoms increase then some of that gets a bit tricky. Don't touch things that other people are touching if you possibly can. Taking your own stuff is probably the safest. Don't be sharing cutlery and no bowls of crisps.

BBC Radio Scotland

National Clinical Director Jason Leitch says allowing groups of up to eight people from a maximum of three different households to meet indoors - one of the changes that come in today - as well as pubs reopening next Wednesday are among the lockdown easing measures "we’re most worried about".

"Indoors is a big step," he tells BBC Radio Scotland. "Big is worse than small, indoors is worse than outdoors and unventilated is worse than ventilated."

Prof Leitch explains that the government have tried to limit the numbers, and number of households, "but at some point, with the prevalence we’ve got, we had to move to getting families back together."

Not everybody has got access to outdoor space, or the ability to physically distance outdoors, he explains.

He adds he is "genuinely anxious" about people meeting up indoors, and people must treat the opportunity cautiously, "with physical distancing and lots of hand sanitizing”.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

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Making face coverings in shops compulsory will "significantly increase the risk of conflict situations" for staff and customers in Scotland's convenience stores, argues Pete Cheema from the Scottish Grocers Federation.

He says there is no evidence to suggest local shops have become hotspots for transmission and, with the virus well suppressed, he can see "no real rationale" for introducing the measures now.

Mr Cheema told BBC Radio Scotland that pressure on staff has been "relentless" throughout the Covid-19 crisis and he believes this move will increase that stress, potentially leading to confrontations with customers, while there is a danger of public squabbles breaking out.

He points out that age verification cannot be done effectively with obscured faces and that ID requests are already a major source of aggravation for shop workers.

BBC Breakfast

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The first minister told BBC Breakfast the science she was applying to her decision-making was the same as that used by the UK government.

Asked if it was confusing that the rules were different in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon highlighted other differences such as the drink-drive laws and alcohol pricing.

She added: "The Scottish parliament takes a whole host of decisions. We have free tuition fees and free prescriptions which don't exist elsewhere in the UK."

Ms Sturgeon was also asked if her handling of the crisis was "playing into your hands in terms of an argument for independence".

She replied: "I have never seen this pandemic as an argument for or against independence. I have tried not to be political, party political or engage in constitutional politics."

BBC Breakfast

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The first minister said Scotland is at a "key, pivotal moment" in its fight against Covid-19.

Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Breakfast infection rates across the country are "perhaps about five times lower than they are in England".

But as Scotland moves to phase three of lockdown easing, she told the programme: "This is a moment of maximum danger."

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

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Takeaway services and beer gardens are already up and running and pubs will be able to reopen indoors from next Wednesday - but will they be ready?

Paul Waterson, from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, insists it is "not going to be a mass opening", estimating that around a third of premises will remain closed.

"Some believe there is not enough business at the moment, particularly in tourist areas," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"For others, operating will simply not be viable, even with social distancing down to one metre and some will never open again, having had no financial support through all of this."

Public confidence will be a big factor, says Mr Waterson, who reckons: "Lots of people will wait and see.

"We will have to work hard to get our customers back."

BBC Breakfast

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Breakfast wearing a face covering "can play a part" in stopping the spread of infection.

But she told the programme it does not give people immunity and is no substitute for other measures, such as hand washing and physical distancing.

Ms Sturgeon also compared face coverings to the wearing of seat belts and said she hopes putting one on becomes "automatic" for people before they enter a shop or use public transport.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

The ending of free university tuition for European Union students from next year is a decision the Scottish government took "with the greatest of regret", says John Swinney.

The education secretary insists it is an "implication of the dreadful process of Brexit", explaining that there is now no legal basis to sustain the funding.

He says that the universities have been told that the money used to support an estimated 16,000 non-UK EU nationals enrolled in Scottish higher education will remain in the sector.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

"The situation is improving," says John Swinney on the issue of non compliance with face coverings, telling BBC Radio Scotland listeners that he has seen more people wearing them on his recent shop visits.

"Gradually, the message is getting across," he says. "People understand the importance of taking these preventative measures."

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And what about enforcement?

"We want to encourage a culture of personal responsibility," replies Mr Swinney, who insists shops should have clear messaging on what is required.

"We don't want to have to get to the point where there is a mandatory application," says the deputy first minister, who praises the "astonishing" level of compliance from the Scottish public throughout this crisis.

Police checks in supermarkets, for example, would "not be a sensible or productive" use of their time, argues Mr Swinney. "The police can intervene but we don't want that to happen."

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

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Deputy First Minister John Swinney denied that making face coverings mandatory was a "draconian" move at a time when the number of cases in Scotland is declining.

Mr Swinney told Good Morning Scotland people are now being given "more choice and more opportunity" as the country enters phase three of lockdown easing.

He said: "If you go back a couple of months we were saying to people 'stay in your house, only go out for essential work, only go out for essential shopping visits'.

"We are now in a situation where people have much more freedom but coronavirus is still in our community.

"There are still, we believe, about 1,000 people who are carrying the infection in Scottish society."

Mr Swinney said it is vital to proceed with caution as international examples show the "rapidity with which coronavirus can make a return".

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

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Prof Linda Bauld said it was also important to remember that they should be backed up by other protective steps.

"If you add face coverings on top of other public health measures like ventilation, hand hygiene and social distancing, they form an important part of the picture," she adds.

A single piece of cloth will do the trick but more layers will offer more protection. However, it must be easy to breathe and it is "absolutely essential" that it is tightly fitted around the nose and mouth and also around the ears.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

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Why are we being asked to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces like shops and public transport?

Professor Linda Bauld, public health expert from Edinburgh University explained: "We know a lot of infections are caused by droplets and these are quite large in a cough or a sneeze," she says.

"If you wear a covering, you are blocking the source and protecting others."

And why haven't we been asked to wear coverings much earlier?

"Back in March around 70 countries immediately recommended mask-wearing but many of those were countries who routinely wear masks during flu season," Prof Bauld tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"The World Health Organisation was sitting on the fence at the time. They commissioned more studies and then changed their guidance and are now very strongly recommend them."