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Weekly data published by National Records of Scotland (NRS), external shows that deaths from Covid-19 in Scotland now account for less than 1% of all deaths in Scotland.

The total number of coronavirus-linked deaths is 4,193, with six deaths registered between 13 July and 19 July where the virus was mentioned on the death certificate.

At the height of the outbreak in April, 36% of all deaths in Scotland were caused by Covid-19. This figure has now fallen below 1% for the first time since the middle of March.

However, excess deaths from all causes have returned to above average levels.

Read more here

If you're just tuning into our live coverage now, here is a quick roundup of the key developments in the UK this Wednesday afternoon.

• Deaths linked to coronavirus in Scotland have fallen to the lowest level since the start of the pandemic, with just six registered last week. New figures from the National Records of Scotland showed the number of deaths falling for the twelfth week in a row
• Fitness Coach Joe Wicks has held the final session of PE with Joe, after first starting the workouts 18 weeks ago for children stuck at home during the lockdown. Wicks, 33, who is known as the Body Coach, has raised £580,000 for the NHS through his online workouts and urged fans to "keep it up" as he ended his last session
• Nearly a quarter of textile firms in Leicester inspected for health and safety breaches since the lockdown have faced action, the government has said. Concerns about working conditions in the city's textile factories have grown in recent weeks after reports staff have been underpaid and unprotected from Covid-19. The city of Leicester was the first in the UK to be subjected to a local lockdown following a spike in infections last month
• Police in London will only enforce the wearing of masks in shops "as a last resort", the Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has said, adding she hoped shoppers who refused to wear masks would be "shamed" into compliance. Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July
• A majority of British children struggled to continue learning at home during the lockdown, according to an Office for National Statistics report. It found that of the 52% who struggled, three-quarters of parents gave a lack of motivation as a reason

• In Scotland, beauticians, nail salons and tattoo parlours can reopen from today. All four nations of the UK are in charge of their own lockdown restrictions and beauty salons have already reopened in England and Northern Ireland
• Reducing staffing due to the coronavirus pandemic has meant there's a backlog of more than 400,000 passport applications in the UK, according to new figures
• Health experts warned politicians the virus will be with us for "decades" and even a vaccine is unlikely to eliminate it for good

Image source, PA Media

The individual nations of the UK have been easing lockdown at different paces, and today sees tattoo parlours, nail salons and beauticians reopen in Scotland.

They already opened in England and Northern Ireland earlier this month, while in Wales they're due to open on 27 July.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Five businesses have been identified as being linked to the Covid-19 outbreak at a call centre in Lanarkshire.

They include Owen's bar in Coatbridge; The Railway Tavern and Merlin's Bar in Motherwell, Costa Coffee in Carfin and END Clothing in Glasgow.

Environmental health officials visited the businesses after 15 workers at the Sitel call centre tested positive for the virus.

All had taken satisfactory precautions and transmission risks were "low".

Read more here.

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Health authorities in the south of Scotland have warned anyone who crossed the border to visit pubs in Carlisle that they should seek a coronavirus test.

New advice mentions four specific locations which have been associated with Covid-19.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway has also cautioned against unnecessary travel to the Carlisle area.

"We would ask that individuals carefully consider whether their visits are necessary," it said.

Image source, Google

Angie Brown
Edinburgh and East reporter

Image source, PA Media

Tickets for Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party have gone on sale with organisers saying it "will be a pivotal moment for the world".

It follows a meeting on Tuesday looking into how Edinburgh's Christmas and Hogmanay could be celebrated at the end of the year.

Organiser Underbelly said it was "excited by the events being discussed".

A final decision on this year's activities is expected in late August.

Read more here.

• There are three new cases in Lanarkshire with one linked to the Sitel call centre outbreak - that's out of a total of 10 new cases in Scotland since yesterday
• The total number of cases linked to the Sitel outbreak now stands at – 15 are Sitel staff members and five close contacts
• The first minister urges people connected to five locations linked with the Sitel outbreak to be 'extra vigilant', but says there are no plans for local lockdown

• There were no new deaths in past 24 hours – that’s the daily PHS figure
• The weekly Covid-19 death statistics from the NRS show six deaths - the 12th weekly reduction and the lowest weekly total since the pandemic began
• Nicola Sturgeon warns this phase of easing lockdown is likely to last much longer than three weeks and says the main focus is the reopening of schools and the lifting of shielding measures
• Working at home remains the default position in Scotland
• Interim chief medical officer:, Dr Gregor Smith warns 'People have become less careful'
• Nicola Sturgeon says she has no plans to meet Boris Johnson tomorrow
• The first minister warns Scots to "think very carefully" before booking a foreign holiday

Image source, PA Media

Bauer asks about the Republic of Ireland's decision to continue to exclude Scotland - as well as England and Wales - from its "green list" of countries that travellers can go to and not self-isolate on their return.

Nicola Sturgeon says Ireland is "absolutely" entitled to take decisions they think are right for themselves.

The first minister says decisions around air bridges are based on the latest assessments of the prevalence of the virus in a country, but are "not cast in stone" and are "subject to change at very short notice".

People should "think very carefully" if their trip is not essential, Ms Sturgeon adds, suggesting they take a holiday in Scotland rather than overseas in the current circumstances.

Image source, Reuters

Tom Eden asks about reports that Boris Johnson is due to visit Scotland tomorrow, does the first minister plan to meet him?

The first minister replies: "I've no plans to meet the prime minister tomorrow. I'm always happy to meet the prime minister if he wants to do so."

She calls on Boris Johnson to follow all the FACTS advice and adds she is sure he will do so.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Eden from PA says SAGE, the UK government’s scientific advisory group, were recommending full lockdown in mid-March - a week before it was introduced in Scotland.

Was that advice passed on to Scotland’s former chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood?

The interim chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith explains the important consideration there was the actual timing of any measures.

He says there was a lot of discussion about the sequence of any measures and when they should be introduced and the decision was taken in Scotland to go forward at a slightly earlier stage.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McDonald from Global asks if any local lockdown is being considered in Lanarkshire.

“Not at the moment we are not,” replies the first minister.

The indications are that the health protection approach and Test and Protect are working to help contain this outbreak at the moment, says Ms Sturgeon.

Should that change other action will be considered but the work under way now is thought to be being effective, she says.

The first minister points out the people who work at Sitel don’t all live in Lanarkshire.

Image source, PA Media

Katie Hunter from BBC Scotland asks whether something went wrong in the procedures at the Sitel call centre, to which 20 coronavirus cases have now been linked, given that information about a positive case emerged on Saturday morning but some staff were still working in the building on Saturday afternoon.

Nicola Sturgeon says she has "slightly greater confidence" today that the 'Test and Protect' process seems to be working, but she needs to see what unfolds over the next few days.

Ms Sturgeon says the government will look back to see if there were opportunities to pick up the outbreak earlier or if there were any specific breaches of guidelines.

Interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith says the recent outbreaks in Annan and North Lanarkshire emphasise that Covid-19 "has not gone away" and that "we can’t let our guard slip".

This is important, he stresses, and urges the public to "try their utmost at all times", reminding us of the 2m rule when we are out shopping and making sure we leave contact details if we go to a pub or restaurant.

If you develop symptoms, make sure you book a test online atNHS Inform, externalor by calling 0800-0282816, Dr Smith says.

"Sticking to the guidelines will ensure we are able to continue enjoying our hard-won freedoms and will help us and the NHS to keep our friends, families and neighbours safe," he concludes.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon says lockdown restrictions are being eased at a pace and level considered to be safe for Scotland.

Announcements elsewhere in the UK don't necessarily apply here, she says.

For example working at home remains the default position in Scotland, she points out.

Non-essential work places and call centres should remain closed for the time being.

As ever she stresses the importance of following the five key things in FACTS, even with loved ones we are desperate to hug:

Image source, Scottish government

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says the main focus now is on keeping the virus at a low enough level to enable schools to safely and fully reopen from 11 August.

The aim is also to remove the requirement for shielding from 31 July if possible and there will be more on that tomorrow.

Both are only achievable if levels of Covid in the community remain low.

The final decisions won't be taken on these issues until next week.

The first minister explains today's steps represent a further cautious reopening of our economy and a cautious resumption of services.

"As always there is some risk attached to this."

She says she believes the appropriate mitigation is in place so these risks can be managed.

The next review of the easing of lockdown is due next Thursday, says the first minister, who adds the current phase 3 is likely to last considerably longer than three weeks.

She explains the recent changes have to be carefully monitored and the outbreak in North Lanarkshire shows what can happen when people are mixing indoors and guidance is perhaps not being rigorously followed.

The first minister says more services are reopening today:

• Beauticians, nail salons and tailors are able to reopen with enhanced hygiene measures.
• Universities and colleges are now able to introduce a phased return to on-campus learning, as part of a blended model with remote teaching, from the same date.
• Motorcycle and tractor instruction and car theory tests can also resume
• Live drive-in events are also be able to take place from today, which means a potential return of live concerts, comedy nights, theatre productions and bingo.

Can you remember all the changes in phase three of lockdown? If not check them all out here.

The first minister says environmental health officers are satisfied the risk of transmission at other locations where workers from Sitel may have visited is low.

This comes after precautionary measures were taken.

Ms Sturgeon explains close contacts from these locations have also been advised to self-isolate

She thanks these five locations for their cooperation which are:

• Owens Bar in Coatbridge
• The Railway Tavern and Merlins Bar in Motherwell
• Costa Coffee in Carfin
• End Clothing in Glasgow

The first minister asks anyone who attended the five locations mentioned to be extra vigilant, follow the guidance and book a test if they experience any symptoms.