The government package is aimed at securing up to 3,000 jobs at Scotland's larger hotels through to summer 2021.

Image source, PA Media

That's all from us here on the live page on Wednesday 29 July.

Tomorrow will see the first minister reveal the latest review of lockdown restrictions, although she has already sought to play down any expectation of large scale changes.

Nicola Sturgeon said she hoped in her statement to the Holyrood parliament she would be able to announce the reopening of schools on 11 August and a pause to shielding by the end of the month.

However Ms Sturgeon said some businesses may well have to wait before getting the news they can reopen.

Join us for extensive coverage of the first minister's update on schools, shielding and lockdown restrictions from 12.20pm tomorrow.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

A project at the University of Aberdeen is one of five to receive new funding from UK Research and Innovation, and the National Institute for Health Research, aiming to explain and reduce the disproportionate death rate from Covid-19 among people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Shaun Treweek, a professor of health services research at the university, says of 1500 registered Covid-19 studies, only six were collecting data on ethnicity.

In the Covid trials published so far, the reporting of ethnicity "is either non-existent or demonstrating a very homogeneous group of individuals involved, so not a diverse mix".

"It is less about explicitly excluding people, it is that we have not thought through how it is possible for people from BAME backgrounds to take part," he said.

Dr Sharandeep Singh, the director of Sikhs in Scotland and an anaethetist within the NHS, says the funding is "great news" because the work the researchers will be doing is "highly necessary and required".

"We should question why it has taken so long to look at the effects of ethnicity in the coronavirus crisis," he adds.

Here's a reminder of today's main points from this lunchtime's coronavirus briefing:

• A possible coronavirus "cluster" is being investigated in the Glasgow area after 14 new cases were reported

• No deaths with a positive test for Covid have been recorded in the past 24 hours
• However, the weekly National Records of Scotland figures showed eight deaths linked to the virus, external
• Public Health Scotland will publish a new 'Covid dashboard' with more information about cases and deaths and where they are happening

Image source, bbc

• Expect a 'very cautious approach' to further easing of lockdown says the first minister ahead of tomorrow's review
• Nicola Sturgeon hopes to announce a pause in shielding by the end of the month and schools reopening on 11 August tomorrow in her Holyrood statement
• The finance Secretary announces a £14m package to help hotels recover from pandemic

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

The chief executive of Heathrow airport has said that the UK government must urgently introduce a passenger testing regime.

Dr Poppy Lamberton, global health specialist at the University of Glasgow, tells Drivetime bringing in a test itself can only be beneficial.

However she warns if you don't have symptoms and get a negative test result too far in advance the biggest problem is the false confidence you may have.

Three days is possibly to long to wait between the test and flying, points out Dr Lamberton.

The tests may be taken days before, she explains and the traveller could catch the virus in the interim period.

Image source, Getty Images

A possible coronavirus "cluster" is being investigated in the Glasgow area after 14 new cases reported there.

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, says it may be an office environment, as we saw at a call centre in Lanarkshire, or alternatively, a particular housing block or area.

"Or – which would be more difficult to handle – it might be linked to a night out, or people being in a hospitality venue," Prof Bauld tells BBC Radio Scotland. "The key now is to follow them up, as they did in Lanarkshire."

Fresh clusters are more likely in urban areas, she says, and we should expect "more of this in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen as you have more people moving around, particularly in close spaces".

"We’re going to see rises, but the [Test and Protect] system is in a much better place than it was a few months ago," she adds.

1. Scotland is now in Phase 3 of the route map out of lockdown, external

• Easing lockdown rules in Scotland: 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 the pandemic.

Image source, bbc

Community volunteers are making face coverings with clear plastic sections over the mouth to help a boy who uses lip reading in his conversations.

Gregor Craig, 12, of Campbeltown, was born with a severe to profound hearing impairment.

He was worried the requirement to wear masks and other face coverings would affect his ability to communicate.

Voluntary group Kintyre Scrubs took on the challenge of making coverings that still left a person's mouth visible.

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

The first minister has sought to play down any expectation of large scale changes to the coronavirus restrictions ahead of the review tomorrow.

Nicola Sturgeon said figures from the National Records of Scotland indicating a small rise in the number of weekly Covid-19 deaths highlighted the need for a cautious approach.

She said she hoped she could announce the reopening of schools on 11 August and a pause to efforts to shield vulnerable people by the end of the month.

However Ms Sturgeon said some businesses may well have to wait before getting the news they can reopen.

Join us for extensive coverage of the first minister's update on schools, shielding and lockdown restrictions from 12.20pm tomorrow.

The debate on the future of the daily Scottish government briefing is on Drivetime shortly.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government should carry out an immediate inquiry into the deaths in care homes through the coronavirus pandemic.

That's according to Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, who also tells Drivetime that a national care service needs to be created following "a huge toll of deaths" in homes.

His comments come on the back of a BBC Scotland Disclosure documentary The Care Home Scandal, which found that care home inspectors in Scotland were given 200 warnings about staff shortages during lockdown.

During the coronavirus pandemic more people have died with the virus in Scotland's care homes than in its hospitals.

Mr Leonard says care homes were not made a priority and regular testing of staff should have been introduced in March, but still does not happen.

He also argues more PPE should have been provided to homes and that he is getting reports from frontline staff that PPE is still being rationed and can be out of date.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, SNS

The 2020 Scottish Women's Premier League season has been declared null and void after just one round of games were possible because of the coronavirus pandemic when the season has halted in March.

Officials are now planning to revert to a winter season for the top flight, starting on Sunday, 18 October and running until June.

Scotland international Leanne Crichton, who plays for Glasgow City, told BBC Radio Scotland it was "good news" that players now have a date to focus on for a return to playing.

"Everyone has been desperate to know either way but now the excitement is we can think about football again," she said. Hopefully that date in October will go ahead and we can get back to doing what we love.

"It will be interesting to see if fans are allowed in by that stage or whether it will be behind closed doors, but there will be more matches on TV this year so hopefully fans can still get behind us and support the game.”

A further 83 people have died from Covid-19 associated deaths in the UK, according to government figures.

It takes the total deaths associated with the pandemic to 45,961.

These figures use data from Public Health England, which is currently reviewing its methodology after it was found to be including people who tested positive months before they died.

Here in Scotland there were no deaths with a positive test for Covid recorded in the past 24 hours

However, the weekly National Records of Scotland figures showed eight deaths linked to the virus, external.

During the coronavirus pandemic more people died with the virus in Scotland's care homes than in its hospitals.

The latest figures show almost 1,900 deaths in care homes where Covid-19 is on the death certificate.

Last night a BBC Disclosure programme, The Care Home Scandal, looked at what went wrong.

• A possible coronavirus "cluster" is being investigated in the Glasgow area after 14 new cases were reported

• No deaths with a positive test for Covid have been recorded in the past 24 hours
• However, the weekly National Records of Scotland figures showed eight deaths linked to the virus, external
• Public Health Scotland will publish a new 'Covid dashboard' with more information about cases and deaths and where they are happening

• Expect a 'very cautious approach' to further easing of lockdown says the first minister ahead of tomorrow's review
• Nicola Sturgeon hopes to announce a pause in shielding by the end of the month and schools reopening on 11 August tomorrow in her Holyrood statement
• The finance Secretary announces a £14m package to help hotels recover from pandemic
• The first minister says decisions on care homes were taken in "good faith" but accepts "we will have made mistakes".
• More countries 'could be added to quarantine list later today'

Image source, People Know How

Hundreds of vulnerable people in Edinburgh have received free computers to help them stay connected during the coronavirus crisis.

People Know How, a social innovation enterprise, has been operating its computer delivery project, external since lockdown began in late March.

It has so far refurbished and distributed around 400 devices - from donations received from different companies – which have helped people look for work, home-school their children, access support and reduce loneliness.

Joan Robertson runs a women’s mental health support group, which swiftly lost several members because they didn’t have the right technology after face-to-face meetings stopped and went online.

“People were already coping with isolation and some had health concerns that made them very vulnerable,” she said.

“Some had reached the edge in lockdown and this has been so important in helping them cope – just being able to join a group meeting, see other people and talk about their issues.”

The project, which also provides ongoing technical support, aims to re-distribute at least 1,000 devices, with co-ordinator Nigel Gallear anticipating the service could continue beyond the end of the year.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Here's what's coming up on Drivetime with John Beattie in terms of the pandemic in Scotland:

A possible coronavirus "cluster" is being investigated in the Glasgow area after 14 new cases were reported there, John will bring us the latest.

The programme will also take a look at the suggestion that Coronavirus will mean an end to going to the office.

And it will examine whether testing at airports might reduce or end the need for quarantine.

After 5pm Keith Brown from the SNP and Brian Whittle from the Scottish Conservatives will debate whether the Scottish government Coronavirus briefings should continue.

And... the 2020 Scottish Women's Premier League season has been declared null and void.