Coronavirus in Scotland: Easing of lockdown, guidance and advice

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.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

The impact of coronavirus on the infrastructure and people of theatre has been “enormous”, the artistic director of the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling has said.

Julie Ellen told Good Morning Scotland the centre at the University of Stirling was keen to reopen its doors to audiences, but only when it was safe to do so.

She said it was going to be difficult for theatres to open fully over the next few months as the logistics of theatre were already complex.

“Being able to turn up on a specific day at a specific theatre with a full cast that are all well is an enormous risk,” she said.

“We invest an awful lot in bringing work to an excellent standard to bring to audiences and it needs to have a certain level of surety about it.”

Inverclyde Council's SNP leader says he would support stricter measures if they were necessary to control the cluster of coronavirus cases discovered in the area.

Chris McEleny said the nature of two of the workplaces involved in the outbreak meant there was a danger that the number of cases could grow fast.

• Coronavirus: Amazon and pharmacy linked to Inverclyde cluster

Inverclyde has the worst coronavirus death rate in Scotland, at more than 15 deaths per 10,000 people.

Mr McEleny called for a rolling programme of random testing in the community and said it was not a time for politicians to be worried about making unpopular decisions.

He told Good Morning Scotland he would support measure that rolled back some of the easing of restrictions enjoyed in Scotland over the last few weeks - including the closure of pubs - if it was the best way to protect people and save lives.

Image source, Mike Pennington/Geograph

The largest arts venue in the Highlands has cancelled all live performances until the start of December.

Eden Court, a theatre and cinema complex in Inverness, has been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic

It has cancelled live performances until 4 December, but is planning for a phased reopening of the site including its cinema later in that month.

Managers said an update on plans for the venue's popular Christmas pantomime would be issued in September.

Read more here

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Teachers should be tested regularly when schools return in August, a national executive member for the teaching union NASUWT says.

Mike Corbett told Good Morning Scotland that he was looking for “clarity” from the first minister on how safe school buildings would be “into the future”.

Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm later that Scotland's schools will reopen in full next month.

Mr Corbett, who is also a teacher, said staff were looking forward to being back in school with pupils, but said there was “some anxiety” about safety.

“One of key things there revolves around testing,” he said.

Andrew Black
BBC Scotland Business Presenter

Image source, Andy Gray

It's a crucial time for many businesses trying to get back on their feet.

Employers are being asked to start shouldering an increasing amount of the cost of running the UK government's job retention - or furlough - scheme, as it winds down.

Chris O'Brien, boss of the Nevis Range mountain resort, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that they had reopened, but were only hitting 30% of the previous years' levels.

However Chris added that the re-signing of one of its key commercial mountain biking contracts, with Trek, was a good sign.

Temporary parking restrictions across Edinburgh to make way for social distancing measures have prompted a backlash from businesses.

One shop owner said streets looked like a "war zone", while another described the plan as "genocide" for businesses.

City of Edinburgh Council suspended parking places apart from loading bays and disabled spaces on a number of roads on Monday.

The council said it was trying to create "welcoming spaces" for shoppers. But some business owners said they had already noticed a drop in customers.

Read more here

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's national clinical director said there were only eight linked cases in the Inverclyde cluster at the moment - with work ongoing to trace all the contacts involved.

Jason Leitch told BBC Scotland the option of a local lockdown to control the Inverclyde cluster was being kept "in reserve" and would be used if necessary.

Read more here

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland's national clinical director says it is "genuinely too early" to tell if the coronavirus cluster in the Inverclyde area is linked to an outbreak at a Lanarkshire call centre last week

But Jason Leitch confirmed that a "number of work places" were involved in the cluster, including a pharmacy and an Amazon warehouse.

Prof Leitch told Good Morning Scotland that the pharmacy was "open and safe".

Image source, Google

The company said the worker was based in a warehouse in Gourock.

A pharmacy is also among a number of businesses that have been linked to the new cluster.

It comes after eight positive tests were among 14 new cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area on Wednesday.

Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government is expected to confirm later that Scotland's schools will reopen in full next month.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said her government's "central objective" is to get all pupils back in the classroom from 11 August.

Ministers signed off the schools plan on Wednesday, and it will be announced to MSPs at Holyrood on Thursday.

Ms Sturgeon has warned she is unlikely to ease many other restrictions, saying her approach will be "very cautious".

However, indicative dates of when more services could be allowed to resume will be announced.

Here's a reminder of the main points from yesterday's coronavirus briefing:

• A coronavirus cluster is being investigated in Inverclyde after eight 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
• Public Health Scotland will publish a new 'Covid dashboard' with more information about cases and deaths
• 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

Image source, Getty Images

• 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, Getty Images

Welcome to Thursday's live coverage of how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting Scotland.

Coming up today - First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm plans for schools in Scotland to return in August.

A pharmacy in Inverclyde and an Amazon warehouse in Gourock are among the sites linked to a new coronavirus cluster.