A weekly update on Covid-19 cases, hospital admissions and deaths in Scotland.

Key maps and charts explaining how the virus has spread around the world.

That's all from the live page on Thursday 30 July, an incredibly busy day for news in Scotland.

Here's a recap of the headlines:

• Scotland's schools have been given the go-ahead to reopen from 11 August
• Coronavirus shielding in Scotland will be paused from 1 August

• Gyms and swimming pools in Scotland could be allowed to reopen on 14 September, among other indicative dates for businesses still closed
• Jackson Carlaw has resigned as the leader of the Scottish Conservatives after only six months in the job.

Image source, PA Media

• The first minister confirmed people who test positive for coronavirus or show symptoms in the UK must now self-isolate for at least 10 days, rather than seven.
• Ms Sturgeon said there were now eight cases confirmed in the Invercyde cluster as the pharmacy at centre of outbreak is named
• No deaths have been registered in Scotland under the daily PHS measurement for the past two weeks
• The first minister has been rebuked by the UK statistics watchdog over repeated claims that coronavirus rates in England are five times higher than Scotland - this led to a clash with Jackson Carlaw in the chamber

Image source, PA Media

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced the next set ofchanges to the lockdown rules in Scotland, external.

Over the coming weeks, shielding will be paused, pupils will return to school full time and dentists will be allowed to provide more services. Gyms, swimming pools and indoor sports courts are due to reopen in September.

So what are the rules - and what else is going to change?

Find out here.

Scotland's schools have been given the go-ahead to reopen from 11 August.

Some councils have opted for a phased return but all pupils are expected to be back in class full time by the 18th.

So, how are Scotland's 32 councils making this happen?

Find out here.

Image source, PA Media

Jackson Carlaw has insisted that he was up to the job of being Scottish Conservative leader.

He said: “I believe I was up to it [the job] but that's not really the issue now.

“I intend to stand again in 2021 in my Eastwood seat but I look forward to supporting the new leader and I hope we can agree on a new leader very quickly and all together.”

Mr Carlaw insisted that coronavirus had brought about a change in circumstances for Scottish politics, adding: "I think the circumstances change all the time and I just think the circumstances in which politics and Scotland have now found themselves are very different."

Facing the cameras for the first time since announcing his intention to stand down, Jackson Carlaw said: “I’ve thought very carefully about it over the last few weeks. I think that the last few months have been a particularly traumatic time for Scottish politics.

“It's kind of left politics in a kind of confused state, and I just think that looking forward to next May the issues I would like to see us fight on - and as someone who is a trooper for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - I’ve just come to the conclusion that a fresh face after all of this is behind us is the right person to lead us into that election."

Mr Carlaw said the narrative created by coronavirus had "overwhelmed everything", adding: "I just think that the right way forward for Scottish Conservatives and Unionists and for the union is for a younger and fresher voice for the party to take us forward.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, bbc

National Clinical Director Jason Leitch says the return of sports events with crowds from 14 September is "provisional" but "good news" if the virus remains suppressed in Scotland.

"Let’s not get too excited, there won't be full crowds at Ibrox and Celtic Park," he tells BBC Scotland. "It will be very controlled and considered and we will have to consider public transport."

Asked about Scotland having the third highest excess level of deaths in Europe between the end of February and the middle of June, Prof Leitch says it is important not to draw conclusions too early.

"I do think excess deaths is a very good way in the long term of measuring pandemic response," he says, noting the data does not include Italy, because their data is incomplete.

Excess deaths relate to the nature of each country's public health before the virus hit - levels of obesity, inequality, housing, disease - and Prof Leitch says there are "legitimate questions to ask about Scotland’s response".

On Reporting Scotland at 18:30:

• Jackson Carlaw's resignation
• Schools reopening
• Shielding paused

• Inverclyde cluster
• Self-isolation rules changed

You can watch Reporting Scotland here with us on this live page or on BBC iPlayer

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, bbc

Former Scottish Conservative MP Peter Duncan tells Drivetime Jackson Carlaw's resignation is not as much of as a surprise as was that of his predecessor Ruth Davidson.

The Dominic Cummings episode was one in which he was not seen to have struck the right tone, Mr Duncan says.

He adds: "If you are going to go the best time to go is soon enough to give someone else time enough to get their feet under the table."

Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, admits he is as surprised by the resignation as everyone else.

However he points out Mr Carlaw was was struggling to make much of an impact .

The psephologist adds he has never been the most charismatic leader as was reflected in the few polls that were collected.

Image source, PA Media

John Swinney admits official figures showing Scotland had the third highest excess level of deaths in Europe between the end of February and the middle of June are "very tough".

"I accept the level of fatalities in Scotland have been very high," he tells BBC Radio Scotland. "The first minister has made clear we should explore why."

The deputy first minister said that coronavirus cases and deaths had nevertheless "fallen dramatically" as a consequence of the cautious approach taken by the Scottish government, with only nine deaths during July, compared to 2,000 in England.

"The measures we have taken have had a significant effect on the prevalence of Covid in our communities," he says.

Image source, PA Media

In an incredibly busy day for news in Scotland, here's a recap of the headlines:

• Jackson Carlaw has resigned as the leader of the Scottish Conservatives after only six months in the job.
• Scotland's schools have been given the go-ahead to reopen from 11 August
• Coronavirus shielding in Scotland will be paused from 1 August

• Gyms and swimming pools in Scotland could be allowed to reopen on 14 September, among other indicative dates for businesses still closed
• The first minister confirmed people who test positive for coronavirus or show symptoms in the UK must now self-isolate for at least 10 days, rather than seven.

• Ms Sturgeon said there were now eight cases confirmed in the Glasgow cluster as the pharmacy at centre of outbreak is named
• No deaths have been registered in Scotland under the daily PHS measurement for the past two weeks
• The first minister has been rebuked by the UK statistics watchdog over repeated claims that coronavirus rates in England are five times higher than Scotland - this led to a clash with Jackson Carlaw in the chamber

John Swinney says it is a "human right” that children have direct access to education and today's guidance is "not unconditional", and includes all sorts of measures to ensure schools and school transport are safe.

Schools should "act with sensitivity" to parents worried about their children's safety. "I know schools will be sensitive to those considerations," he says.

The education secretary reiterates that while teachers should maintain distancing from pupils, they are not obliged to wear face coverings but can do so if they "feel more comfortable and assured of their safety" by wearing one.

Pupils are also free to wear them, says Mr Swinney, but again they are not obligatory and "an orderly school environment won’t be conducive to young people wearing them on a consistent basis", he adds.

People arriving from Luxembourg will have to self-isolate for 14 days as part of new Covid measures.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, author of 'The Art of Statistics', says we have known the UK "has done very badly for a long time".

He says cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow have been running about 10% extra deaths than would normally expect, compared to London at about 15% and Madrid at 30%.

The excess deaths have “gone on longer than in other places, for whatever reason” he says, with outbreaks in care homes likely to be a major factor.

The average age of deaths from Covid-19 is 85 for women, 81 for men, but that is also the also average age for normal deaths, Prof Spiegelhalter says.

“So these are elderly frail people contributing to these numbers and we can conclude they have actually not been very well protected,” he adds.

Official figures indicate that England had the highest level of excess deaths in Europe between the end of February and the middle of June.

It was followed by Spain - with Scotland in third place.

The Office for National Statistics' measure compares the number of deaths in a given period with the five-year average for that time.

It's widely regarded as the most reliable marker of the impact of Covid-19.