Peacetime excess deaths for 2020 were the highest in Scotland since 1891, official figures show.

Image source, bbc

That's all from BBC Scotland's live page on Wednesday 15 July, the day Scotland began its most significant relaxation of coronavirus measures since the country went into lockdown.

Nicola Sturgeon hailed a "really significant milestone" after Scotland recorded three days with no coronavirus cases admitted to hospitals last week.

For the seventh day in a row no deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have been registered.

The first minister warned it was now more important than ever to stick to public health measures.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Deputy First Minister John Swinney tells Drivetime the Scottish government has concentrated £2bn to help the business community over this incredibly difficult period.

Mr Swinney says today's biggest easing of lockdown must be treated with care.

Plans for an alternative Edinburgh Hogmanay celebration are being drawn up and will be put to a meeting of councillors next week.

Mr Swinney points out we are required to think again about how events like Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebration take place in a safe way.

The deputy first minister tells the programme the government will certainly be talking to the City of Edinburgh Council about this winter's events.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, SNS

Having a haircut is such an essential part of life that it will help businesses in the sector survive the economic downturn caused suggests stylist Jen Linton.

"We are in an industry where everybody still wants their hair done," she tells BBC Radio Scotland. "We are quite lucky - there are no robots taking over our job anytime soon.

"I do think we've just got to get over a hard slump and then we'll be fine."

Ms Linton, of Linton & Mac in Aberdeen and who is involved in the National Hairdressing and Beauty Federation, says setting up premises to meet the safety requirements ahead of today's reopening has been "the biggest challenge".

"Just making sure we can survive and keep open while we have to work with restrictions and its about making sure we can have as many bodies in the building at one time," she adds.

"Our waiting list has been massive, which is amazing. So the demand is there - it is just about fitting everyone in."

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Wednesday evening.

Nicola Sturgeon has hailed a "really significant milestone" after Scotland recorded three days with no coronavirus cases admitted to hospitals last week.

The first minister said the virus was being driven to "really low levels".

For the seventh day in a row no deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have been registered.

However, wider figures showed the virus had been mentioned on 13 death certificates in the week to Sunday, external as a suspected or underlying cause of death.

Ms Sturgeon said people should be "hyper vigilant" and "stick rigidly to the rules" to avoid any new outbreaks, admitting she was nervous about the latest easing of virus restrictions.

The first minister's deputy John Swinney is on Drivetime towards the end of the programme.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Not all businesses and attractions have reopened today in Edinburgh despite being permitted to do so, but the city council's deputy leader is hopeful that the initial "nervousness" will be overcome.

"I've spent some time in Portobello and Leith and there's a whole load of businesses that are open - I think we will see a slow trend," Cammy Day tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"The council has written to over 20,000 local businesses just giving some help and advice and support on how they can reopen safely and I think we will see that increase over the coming days and weeks ahead."

The city's attractions are important to tourism and Mr Day adds: "The castle's a huge, complex building, as are places throughout the city that will need a bit more work and investment to make them safe to reopen."

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

City of Edinburgh Council will next week take a decision on the future of its world-renowned Christmas and New Year celebrations, with deputy leader Cammy Day admitting that "having 80,000-100,000 people in one street is not reasonable" because of the ongoing pandemic.

"I accept it will be something quite different, but it will be something quite as exciting, so watch this space," he tells BBC Radio Scotland..

"Will there be so many big mass events? That would be unlikely, but can we have things like markets spread across the city? Can we have displays around the city that welcomes communities to their won local celebrations?"

Mr Day says discussions are continuing but plans will be presented to an all-party group of councillors on 21 July.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

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The Wee Lochan in Glasgow's Crow Road is one of the casualties of lockdown, with owner Aisla Staniforth telling BBC Radio Scotland why she was forced to take the "heartbreaking" decision to call in the liquidator.

"I don't think we are going to be the last," she says. "Just before lockdown started, the government suggested people not go out to restaurants and bars, but they didn't lock us down, so we went from having hundreds of bookings.

"Money was disappearing out the door - we had staff on and all the overheads. Mother's Day was coming up and we had 140 booked, but that fell down to four."

Ms Staniforth had planned to open an outdoor area as lockdown was eased but had not factored in the restaurant's "tiny kitchen". "You couldn't get two chefs in there," she explains.

And, when she looked at the potential rota: "It would have taken 60% of any turnover when normally a wage percentage would have been 25%. It was just unfeasible."

Image source, PA Media

The first minister used today's briefing to outline the changes that have come in today as part of Phase 3 of the route map out of lockdown, external.

She joked she wishes she had known about hairdressers opening at midnight.

Here's a reminder of the other changes that came in today:

• Places of worship can now reopen for congregational services, communal prayer and contemplation
• Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries can reopen - with physical distancing and other measures

• All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements
• Indoor hospitality in pubs and restaurants returns on "a limited basis" and subject to several conditions

• Easing of restrictions on attendance at funerals, marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations
• All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance)

What are the other changes to the lockdown rules? Find out here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

For the seventh day in a row no deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have been registered, but the first minister has warned people to remain "hyper-vigilant".

Professor Linda Bauld tells Drivetime: "Scotland's in a really good place right now."

This is absolutely the time to open up but there are still risks, with the biggest one being indoor interactions where there is not good ventilation the academic explains.

The professor of public health at Edinburgh University is looking forward to visiting her local pub but points out those environments are risky.

Professor Bauld says we don't have the surveillance we should in Scotland and we need to think carefully about our testing regime to protect people.

"Let's be worried about the months to come," she warns, particularly about the winter.

Easing lockdown guidance and advice

1. Scotland is now in Phase 3 of the route map out of lockdown, 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. Clear Your Head, external: It's ok to not feel yourself right now, here's some great tips to help get you through it.people through the pandemic.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, AFP

Willie MacLeod, the Scottish Director of UK Hospitality, says: "I think there are a number of businesses that have decided not to open today, perhaps because they are waiting for a sufficient level of business to justify reopening.

"I think sadly we're going to see some businesses that just don't reopen at all."

Mr MacLeod warns that trying to get through the winter is "going to be appallingly difficult for people", with no international demand or business travel.

He points out there is still no guidance from the Scottish government on conferences and consumer confidence is an issue.

Most establishments don't tend to make money until 60-70% occupancy the Scottish director of UK hospitality warns.

The WHO warns that a drop in lifesaving jabs could cause more harm than Covid-19 itself.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

A hotelier has praised the local community for rallying to his reopened restaurant but warned that his "biggest challenge" will be surviving through the winter low season.

Nick Henderson, of Burt's Hotel in Melrose, tells BBC Radio Scotland: "The thing I can't get over is how many local people have supported us, which is really fabulous.

"The business model here is based on volume and we are not getting anything like the volume through and we'll just have to cut our cloth accordingly."

Image source, Burts Hotel

"We'll have to get enough fat on before the winter and get ourselves through to April," adds Mr Henderson.

The hotel opened an outdoor marquee in its car park last week and today was able to open indoors too, but social distancing means only half the tables can be used.

"I think people at this stage are more comfortable sitting outside and luckily it is reasonably warm and has been quite popular actually - last week we were quite busy before we were allowed indoors," Mr Henderson adds.

Image source, Visit Scotland

Visit Scotland has launched a campaign to attract people to tourist attractions across Scotland.

The "Take five for tourism" appeal asks people across Scotland to support the sector in its "time of need".

The five actions that could help restart the visitor economy are taking a trip, visiting an attraction or experience, shopping locally, dining out and booking a staycation.

With tourism worth more than £11.5bn to the Scottish economy and supporting one in 12 jobs, the sector has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown and travel restrictions.