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Asked by The Scotsman's Gina Davidson about the small grants scheme, Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop says it would be incorrect to say that about 17,000 applications had not been processed before the deadline closed on Friday.

Ms Hyslop says that figure included a number that had been "understandably rejected" under the criteria.

She points out that more than 100,000 businesses have been supported by the scheme.

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Paul Malik, from The Courier, points out that the Scottish Dental Practice Owners Group has said it has no confidence in the consultation arrangements between the government and the existing representative body, the STDC.

The SDPO says it has no confidence that a framework for the sector can be agreed beyond the pandemic and he wonders if it is fair to say that dentists have been overlooked during the pandemic.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies: "It has been very difficult for dentists, I don't want to underplay that, but I don't think it would be fair - indeed, I would say it would be unfair - to say that."

Handing over to Jason Leitch, himself a dentist, the national clinical director says: "The chief dental officer has engaged with the British Dental Association's representative body in Scotland - that's the right thing for him to do.

"The practice owners' group is new, they have a particular set of challenges that we accept, and the chief dental officer is keen to hear from them and engage with the broad profession to try to find a way through some of these really challenging elements."

Prof Leitch adds that dentistry is "particularly difficult" in the route map out of lockdown because of the nature of the treatment.

Prof Leitch has urged Scots visiting pubs to remember they must social distance from everyone outwith their household when they visit.

"If you are going with three pals to the pub, you still have to physically distance from the three pals if they are not in your household.

"The distancing applies from household to household - you don't get an exemption from the distancing just because you go with your friends", he said.

The only difference in a pub is that the social distancing is 1m rather than 2m, and that the 1m distance applies to everyone within the area.

Prof Leitch added he was concerned after seeing groups who "don't always look as though they're in the same household" sitting close together.

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PA's Tom Eden points to research by NHS Lothian and Edinburgh University showing that outbreaks of coronavirus in care homes are up to 20 times more likely in large homes.

He wonders if the Scottish government is aware of the findings and whether it will prompt any action.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says: "We are looking very closely at that research."

She says that, combined with the Scottish government's own findings, it is looking at disparities in different populations and settings.

National clinical director Jason Leitch points out that "this was an article published using previously published data".

"Their estimate of why is based on footfall and number of people - it is not about quality of care," the professor says.

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Nicola Sturgeon has said she "will not hesitate" to close bars and restaurants again if the coronavirus starts to spread.

She said that social distancing rules were there for a reason, and that was to protect people's health.

Ms Sturgeon said she was concerned that the virus would spread if everyone did not strictly stick to social distancing rules.

"If these rules are not respected and the virus spreads again then I am afraid I am going to be standing here in a few weeks' time saying we're shutting pubs and restaurants again.

"I really, really don't want to have to do that but I will not hesitate if I am advised that is required to save lives."

She added that the rules were in everybody's interests "Every time any one of us... breaches one of these rules we provide this horrible, deadly virus a bridge to jump across... and before we know it, Covid is out of control again."

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Bauer's Alan Smith says: "Beauticians are telling us they are still in the dark about what they will be able to offer customers when they are able to reopen next week as they have not seen specific advise for Scotland and are taking guidance from England's regulations."

Asked what guidance she can provide, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies: "I totally understand, but we need to be very cautious and take very considered decisions about what exactly is permitted because we know that close contact, face-to-face contact, is the riskiest of all."

National clinical director Jason Leitch addst: "Beauty therapy, massage therapy, complementary therapy, my inbox is full of what exactly those are and when they can open."

The professor points out that 22 July is the indicative date for beauty therapy and that the deputy chief nursing officer met with the advisory group yesterday and they are setting out what that guidance will be in the next few days

"I would anticipate it will be very similar to the English guidance," he says.

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National Records of Scotland figures show that people in the most deprived areas are 2.1 times more likely to die from Covid-19 and Alan Smith, from Bauer, wonders why that might be the case.

National clinical director Jason Leitch replies: "It is no surprise that diseases expose inequalities. That, unfortunately, is how chronic disease in particular works.

"I am not surprised by the NRS's findings today. We have seen it around the world in reports and we've seen it in the UK-wide report - Covid-19 affects you worse if you are poorer - and Scotland has deep-seated inequalities.

"It is about poverty, it is about housing, it is about access to care, it is about multi-occupancy households."

Prof Leitch points out that the creation of Public Health Scotland was to deal with those health inequalities and hopes that it is well-placed to tackle the issues.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Meanwhile, at Westminster Boris Johnson has for the first time committed to an "independent inquiry" into the coronavirus pandemic.

The prime minister said it was not right to devote "huge amounts of official time" to an inquiry while the UK is "in the middle" of a pandemic.

But he said the government would seek to learn lessons "in the future" and "certainly we will have an independent inquiry into what happened".

He was responding to a question from acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey.

The prime minister has repeatedly rejected opposition calls for an inquiry into the UK government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

• Read more here
• Calls grow for coronavirus inquiry
• Start Covid-19 inquiry now, say bereaved families

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Wearing face coverings and social distancing will be the norm "for the foreseeable", the first minister has warned.

"People have to get used to living with these restrictions", she said, adding that right now the immediate challenge facing the country is a resurgence of the first wave.

"This so quickly can go out of control", she warned.

Ms Sturgeon and Prof Leitch both cited examples where the number of cases had quickly increased - including in Israel and parts of Australia.

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Will NHS patients have to accept longer waiting times for the foreseeable future, asks BBC Scotland's Lynsey Bews.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon replies: "We are trying to get the health service running as close to normal as possible, as quickly as possible."

However, she points out that the government is asking patients to be patient as new ways of working may require a longer wait.

National clinical director Jason Leitch says: "We are dealing with three simultaneous challenges - dealing with the actual pandemic and infections, keeping the health service ready for a potential second wave or cluster of cases and remobilising the health service and reintroduction of services."

Prof Leitch points out that a meeting this week was focused on "getting out as fast as we can to start seeing outpatients".

He says this will include new ways of working - like video appointments and phone calls - and you may have to move to another hospital or health facility.

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BBC Scotland's Lynsey Bews points out that hoteliers in Skye have said they are coming under pressure to pass on the VAT cut to customers and wonders if the first minister thinks they should do so.

Nicola Sturgeon replies that she is "not going to dictate" how individual businesses respond.

"But the VAT reduction the chancellor announced last week for tourism and hospitality is designed very much to support businesses through a difficult period when their trading conditions continue to be limited," she says.

"As customers and consumers, where we can, we should try to find ways to support particularly local businesses - shopping locally if you haven't done that before and going on holiday in Scotland."

Economy secretary Fiona Hyslop says the second highest cut in VAT in Europe was very welcome and, while individual businesses can make their own decision, it is important that Scotland retains a sustainable tourism industry for many years to come.

The Scottish government's national clinical director, Prof Jason Leitch, has said he is nervous about the changes being made today to ease the lockdown restrictions.

During the daily briefing, he said: "Today feels like a big day in the route map out of lockdown."

He went on to speak about the "great relief" that places of worship could reopen.

But he warned "the communal nature of places of worship makes them particularly vulnerable - we need to proceed with caution".

Communal prayer and services are now allowed again, although numbers will be limited to 50.

Singing and chanting will not be allowed and those attending will be asked for their contact details.

Restrictions on attendance at services and ceremonies for funerals, weddings and civil partnerships have been eased - now up to 20 guests are permitted.

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Fiona Hyslop added that as people returned to work, figures showed that 29.8% of Scottish workers have been furloughed.

She urged the chancellor to consider extending the Job Retention Scheme, particularity for sectors hard-hit by the pandemic and those which are unlikely to recover quickly.

"It is only fair that these businesses are supported when they have had to close through no fault of their own and undoubtedly saved lives as a result, so we will continue to press this cause also", she added.

Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop says the majority of the tourism and hospitality sector is beginning to reopen today.

She said all of this was underpinned by strong guidance with safety in mind.

"We all have a duty to enjoy these new freedoms responsibly", she said. Ms Hyslop urged the public to plan in advance, adhere to the FACTS advice and to respect the local community.

The construction sector can move into the next phase of easing lockdown restrictions, she said, adding that a cut to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax would also begin today.

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The first minister concludes saying there were three days last week when there were no admissions to hospital of confirmed Covid cases.

Since 26 June, we've had six days in total where there have been no confirmed cases of the virus admitted to hospital.

Ms Sturgeon insists: "I don't want to go backwards."

The first minister says: "I have to say I am even more nervous about today's changes than I have been about earlier changes."

Today's steps are by some margin the highest-risk changes, as they include indoor activity where the risk of spread is significantly higher than outdoors, Ms Sturgeon explains.

She tells the briefing: "It is vital, more vital than it has been at any stage of this crisis so far, that all of us stick rigidly to the rules and guidance on how to behave in these different settings."

It's only by doing that we can stop the virus spreading again, she adds, calling on us all to give our contact details when asked for.

We must all comply with all necessary mitigations in a 1m zone.

Image source, Scottish government

The first minister details the changes that have come in today as part of Phase 3 of the route map out of lockdown, external.

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

The other changes are:

• 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.