Image source, Getty Images

The first minister reiterates the importance of acting immediately if you have any Covid symptoms.

If you have those symptoms you should self-isolate and go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test.

"Speed of action here is of the essence and if you follow this advice you are helping to ensure, where cases of Covid do arise, our contact tracers are able to step in quickly and break those chains of transmission."

This is even more important as more public services and the economy are opened up more, she says.

"Today marks the biggest step out of lockdown for Scotland so far."

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says the Scottish government will publish a new paper setting out the approach to surveillance of the virus and the management of outbreaks.

"As we all go out and about more it becomes increasingly important that we are very alert, hyper-vigilant, to any early warnings that case numbers might be starting to increase again."

Ms Sturgeon says responding quickly when cases arise is important and the Test and Protect system is "absolutely vital to that".

She points out other sources of information are being used for early warnings, for example NHS 24 call data and Covid genome sequencing.

Health Protection Scotland has also updated its guidance on the management of public health incidents to allow a rapid response to outbreaks.

Image source, Alamy

The first minister points out today is Scottish Care Home day, and says she wants to thank in particular Scotland's care workers.

She also thanks all of the other staff who are essential to the operation of care homes, such as cleaning staff and kitchen staff among others.

Ms Sturgeon says all of them have shown compassion and skill above and beyond the call of duty.

"You have my heartfelt thanks for that."

The number of care home deaths in Scotland over the week increased from five to seven, according to the NRS figures.

That means deaths in care homes made up just over half of all deaths from Covid in the last week.

The total number of deaths in Scotland from all causes last week was 56 below the five-year average. That's the third week in a row the total number of deaths has been below the five -year average.

Last week was the 11th week in a row that the number of deaths from Covid has fallen.

"Covid is now being driven to very low levels in Scotland," says Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon confirms 18,373 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of five from yesterday.

611 patients are in hospital with a suspected or confirmed case (down five), with six being treated in intensive care (down six).

There are still only two confirmed cases in ICU in the whole country.

No deaths were registered in the last 24 hours of people who tested positive, meaning the total remains at 2,490.

"This is the seventh day in a row in which no deaths have been recorded in our daily figures," explains the first minister.

This is lower than the 4,187 deaths confirmed by NRS earlier as that figure includes all cases where Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate, even if the patient had not been tested.

Image source, Jane Barlow

Scotland has begun its most significant relaxation of coronavirus measures since the country went into lockdown in March.

Hairdressers and barbers, bars and restaurants, cinemas, tourist attractions, places of worship and childcare settings can now all reopen.

Nicola Sturgeon said it is "the biggest step so far" in exiting lockdown.

But she warned it would also bring the greatest risk for potential resurgence of the virus.

Read more here.

Image source, AFP

Nicola Sturgeon will shortly lead today's Scottish government coronavirus briefing.

The first minister will be joined by:

• Economy, Fair Work and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop
• National Clinical Director Jason Leitch

Angie Brown
BBC Scotland news reporter

Image source, James Spooner

A father-of-two who had not had his hair or beard cut for 20 weeks due to the coronaivrus lockdown said he was "relieved" barber shops had reopened in Scotland.

James Spooner, 48, queued to get into his barber, Danyar in Pollokshaws in Glasgow, as soon as it opened.

Mr Spooner said his 10-year-old son had become embarrassed by his father's overgrown appearance and wanted him to get to the hairdressers as soon as he could.

Mr Spooner, said: "I was due a haircut when we went into lockdown so it's grown considerably, I've never had a beard that bushy or hair that long.

"Children in the street were calling me Hagrid and caveman and I wouldn't turn on the video during work Zoom meetings as friends had been calling me Neptune.

"It felt colder walking home with less hair and it felt strange not to have my hair blowing in the wind any more."

Image source, James Spooner

Updated analysis, covering the period from 1 March to 30 June, on mortality by occupation, deprivation and pre-existing conditions has also been published by NRS today, external.

It also includes analysis of urban and rural areas.

The key findings remain similar to those published last month, for the period 1 March to 31 May and show:

• Of all deaths involving Covid-19 between March and June 2020, 92% had at least one pre-existing condition. The most common main pre-existing condition was dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, representing 31%.
• People in the most deprived areas were 2.1 times more likely to die with Covid-19 than those living in the least deprived areas.
• The highest number of deaths involving Covid-19 of working people aged between 20-64 by occupation group were among process, plant and machine operatives.
• People living in larger urban areas were over four times more likely to die with Covid-19 than those in remote locations.

A total of 4,187 Scots deaths have been linked to Covid-19, official figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS), external show.

That's an increase of 13 deaths from the previous week, according to statistics published today.

The figures are higher than the daily figure announced by Nicola Sturgeon because they include all cases where Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate, even if the patient had not been tested.

Image source, SNS

Building work is another area of the Scottish economy to take a step towards normality today, with close working being permitted again - but only as long as appropriate PPE is worn when necessary.

Scottish government ministers agreed to the move after receiving assurances that this would not compromise PPE supplies required for the NHS.

"Controlled close working will enable the sector to carry out tasks that have not been possible since the lockdown began, but we are, of course, not back to business as usual yet and the health and safety of construction workers and the public remains the top priority," Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said.

While he commended the construction industry's "responsible and measured" response to the Covid-19 crisis, Mr Stewart stressed the importance of owners and workers following government and Construction Scotland safe operating guidance.

Image source, PA Media

Here's a cut Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard backs!

Scotland has begun its most significant relaxation of lockdown measures since the the country was shut down in March.

Hairdressers and barbers, bars and restaurants, cinemas, tourist attractions, places of worship and childcare settings can now all reopen.

Nicola Sturgeon said it was "the biggest step so far" in exiting lockdown.

But she warned that it would also bring the greatest risk for potential resurgence of the virus.

Read more here

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Some staycation visitors are asking tourism businesses to give discounts based on passing UK chancellor Rishi Sunak's reduction in VAT on to their customers.

But Skye Connect communications manager Simon Cousins suggests that is being unfair on businesses that have had to survive with no income for four months - then had to adapt to new social distancing measures.

"Please acknowledge that these businesses have invested heavily in keeping you safe and they also have to remain financially viable," he tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"It is a difficult business environment for a lot of hotels and restaurants, yet they have spent a lot of money making premises safe for visitors and that's a lot of additional cost with no income."

Hotels, restaurants and cafes will look different now, with staff wearing masks or visors, hand sanitiser stations and social distancing measures forcing a reduction in numbers.

Angie Brown
Edinburgh and East reporter

Image source, Catherine Home

The UK's longest-running vegetarian restaurant is among businesses across Scotland which will not be reopening their doors as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Hendersons in Edinburgh announced earlier this week the family-run business, which began life as a farm shop in 1962, had gone into liquidation.

Owner Catherine Home, whose mother Janet was the pioneering influence behind Scotland's first vegetarian café, told the BBC she is devastated at not being able to keep the family's legacy alive.

Please read more here

Mornings with Kaye Adams
BBC Radio Scotland

Book and plan ahead - that is the message for visitors as Scotland's tourist trade opens up again as lockdown eases.

And Simon Cousins, communication manager for the Skye Connect organisation, has launched a Facebook page and listing on its website to help holidaymakers do just that.

"Not every business, not every hotel, restaurant or cafe is opening today and even those that are opening have restricted hours or restricted numbers," he tells BBC Radio Scotland.

Mr Cousins recognises that the local community had concerns about welcoming back visitors who could import cases of coronavirus on to the island.

"There has been a lot of concern - Skye was badly hit through Covid-19 with the outbreak at the Home Farm care home and that created a lot of tension within the community," he admits.

"But there's definitely been a shift in the last few weeks and the messaging we have been getting out over the last few weeks is encouraging people to come as they will get a very warm welcome here."