Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon confirms at her daily briefing that there have been 18 new positive cases recorded - 11 of those in the Grampian area

  • The number of cases in a cluster linked to the Hawthorn Bar in Aberdeen rises to 27, from 13

  • New clusters following the opening of hospitality was what the first minister "feared" would happen

  • Ms Sturgeon adds that when she saw images on social media of gatherings this weekend it made her "want to cry"

  • No new deaths were registered in the last 24 hours of people who had tested positive

  • Diners in Scotland will be able to buy cheaper pub and restaurant meals in August from today, as part of a UK government scheme aimed at boosting the sector

  1. New guidance for call centre safety publishedpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    Call centre workerImage source, Getty Images

    The Scottish government has published fresh guidance for call centres following an outbreak at a workplace in Lanarkshire.

    One employee at the Sitel call centre near Motherwell had raised concerns about staff breaching social distancing rules in communal areas while taking their breaks.

    The new guidance encourages employers to consider staggering break times, having staff to remain on-site for breaks and providing outdoor areas.

    Click here to view the latest guidance., external

  2. Universities to 'create opportunities' through clearingpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    Exam results

    The university clearing process is expected to be utilised considerably this year, according to careers manager Ann Duff.

    Tens of thousands of pupils in Scotland will receive their SQA results tomorrow – which for the first time will not be based on exams.

    National 5s, Higher and Advanced Highers will be based on teacher estimates, built around prelim results and submitted course work.

    Ann Duff, who works at the University of Glasgow, told BBC Radio Scotland the university clearing process will be “healthier” this year than others.

    Clearing is the way that universities and colleges fill any places they still have on their degree courses.

    Ms Duff says universities are likely to create more opportunities for students to attend courses this year, which combined with a drop in international students will increase the use of clearing.

    “Clearing is going to see plenty of courses, plenty of opportunities, plenty of things for people to segue into,” she said.

  3. Edinburgh International Festival goes digitalpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    The actual festival was cancelled due to coronavirus so organisers have commissioned a number of digital works.

    Read More
  4. Plea for help to tackle 'uncontrolled camping'published at 14:48 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    Campfire

    Highland Council is to ask for Scottish government help to deal with what it described as "uncontrolled camping".

    Councillors said many areas of the region had been "adversely affected by a huge increase" in people camping where there were no facilities, such as public toilets.

    They said the situation posed a potential public health risk and may not improve even after the reopening of campsites, adding: "Future demand from 'staycationers' may well outstrip any possible supply of campsite spaces".

    To reduce the health risk councillors have suggested increased waste collections, better traffic management, restrictions on alcohol consumption and financial support for beach or countryside wardens, temporary toilet and handwashing facilities.

  5. Sturgeon: Think about how often you need to go to pub or restaurantpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

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  6. 'Really important' breast cancer screenings have resumedpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    Lunchtime Live
    BBC Radio Scotland

    A woman is screened for breast cancerImage source, Science Photo Library

    The breast screening programme, which was suspended in March because of the coronavirus outbreak, has resumed in Scotland.

    Patients will receive letters to reschedule appointments but it will take some time to fully restore the service.

    Melanie Sturtevant from Breast Cancer Now says screening prevents around 1,300 deaths a year across the UK, while NHS Scotland has estimated there is a backlog of around 78,000 women that have missed out on appointments.

    "Screening is very important in helping to detect breast cancer at the earliest stages when treatment is likely to be more successful," she tells BBC Radio Scotland.

    "It is really important and encouraging these plans have been put in place to resume the service."

    Ms Sturtevant says officials do not yet know what the long-term impact will be of missed screenings, but the most important thing is to safely minimise delays to catch-up appointments and make sure women feel confident to attend.

  7. New guidance for call centres following Lanarkshire outbreakpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

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  8. Sturgeon 'would consider' closing pubs againpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    A barman serves two drinksImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Pubs reopened to customers last month

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she "won't hesitate" to reintroduce lockdown restrictions if Covid-19 starts to get "out of control".

    Tackling the virus while easing lockdown was a "delicate balance" which could easily be thrown off kilter.

    If that happened, Ms Sturgeon said the government would have to "consider" restrictions "up to and including" shutting pubs and restaurants.

    The first minister said that was "the last thing I want to do".

    Ms Sturgeon said the "big danger" was if the clusters which have been seen in areas like Aberdeen and Inverclyde spread further and lead to community transmission.

    Read more here.

  9. Lockdown 'reverse gear' warning after pub clusterpublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    Prof Leitch
    Image caption,

    Prof Leitch warned lockdown easing may have to step backwards if transmission levels increased

    Scotland's national clinical director has said there has to be a "reverse gear" over easing lockdown after 13 Covid-19 cases were linked to a pub.

    Prof Jason Leitch was speaking after the cluster emerged on Sunday linked to the Hawthorn Bar in Aberdeen.

    NHS Grampian said contact tracing efforts were continuing to find all those associated with the outbreak.

    Read more here.

  10. Sturgeon: Pictures of gatherings with no distancing 'made me want to cry'published at 13:40 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

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  11. Summary: Over half of new cases are in the north-eastpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said 11 of the 18 new cases in Scotland are thought to be in the NHS Grampian area.

    However, it is unclear whether any of these are linked to the outbreak in Aberdeen, where a cluster of 13 cases emerged.

    First Minister

    In addition:

    • Journalist questions largely focused on the prospect of local lockdowns in light of emerging clusters. The FM said the situation would be monitored, but at the moment no further restrictions were being implemented.
    • No new deaths were registered in the last 24 hours, for an 18th successive day, of people who tested positive for the virus.
    • The health secretary announced an additional £50m for social care.
  12. Will university students be routinely tested?published at 13:20 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    studentImage source, Getty Images

    Ms Sturgeon is asked by the Herald if university students will be routinely tested and forced to wear masks.

    It comes after a recommendation from one of the Scottish government's own advisers, Professor Devi Sridhar, that face coverings should be mandatory and all international students should be tested on arrival and five days later.

    Nicola Sturgeon says "discussions are ongoing" with universities and the government will confirm the measures they want them to put in place once they have taken those decisions.

  13. Would the government consider banning under-25s from pubs?published at 13:10 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    people in pubImage source, get

    Christine Lavelle from the Sun asks if the government would consider a move to ban under-25s from pubs, if it seems only older people are complying with the rules.

    "No, I don't want to have to do that at all," the first minister says.

    She says younger people are more likely to be visiting pubs and warns they are not immune from getting the virus.

    We've all got our part to play, Ms Sturgeon adds.

  14. Will new 90-minute Covid tests be introduced in Scotland?published at 13:04 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    90-minute testImage source, DA NUDGE 2020

    Tom Martin from the Daily Express wonders what role there will be in Scotland for the new 90-minute tests that can detect coronavirus and flu and will be rolled out in hospitals and care homes in England from next week.

    Nicola Sturgeon says she welcomes the announcement and that "a portion" of the on-the-spot swab and DNA tests will be for use in Scotland, with discussions continuing with the UK government on the issue.

    The first minster wants Scotland's own clinical advisers to "look carefully at the accuracy and efficacy of these tests" first.

    "Anything that speeds up the diagnosis of Covid and allows the whole contact tracing procedure to be speeded up is certainly welcome," she adds.

    Health secretary Jeane Freeman adds that the new tests "certainly offer advantages" but they need to be sure that "the 90-minute test is as good as the current PCR test", which is "very particular, focused and reliable" in specifically detecting Covid-19.

  15. Do not assume local lockdowns are inevitable, says FMpublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    lockdownImage source, Getty Images

    Fraser Nicol from Original 106 highlights the launch of Eat Out to Help Out today, asking whether people should be supporting local pubs and restaurants or avoiding them.

    We have to support these businesses carefully and safely, responds the first minister, adding people will have to judge for themselves whether to go out to bars, as well as consider their behaviour while they are they.

    This is a “fragile and delicate balance,” she adds.

    Tom Eden from PA wonders about support for any businesses which would be impacted by the re-imposition of a lockdown.

    Ms Sturgeon says this would depend on the circumstances and risk, but she urges people not to assume local lockdowns are inevitable.

  16. FM warns of danger of out-of-control clusterspublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    school pupilsImage source, Getty Images

    Steven Brown from STV also presses for information on keeping outbreaks under control, given schools are due to reopen next week.

    Ms Sturgeon replies that as long as the government is satisfied clusters are under control and chains of transmission are being broken, we can avoid local lockdown.

    The danger would be if clusters were to get out of control despite the best efforts of Test and Protect, she says. This will be judged on a daily basis, she adds.

    “I won’t hesitate because we have seen over the last few months the damage [Covid-19] does to people.”

  17. Could additional restrictions be introduced in Aberdeen?published at 12:52 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    David Shanks from BBC Scotland asks whether additional restrictions on pubs in Aberdeen will be necessary.

    Ms Sturgeon says she does not want to bring in further restrictions, but it will be considered if needed.

    Restrictions up to and including shutting down restaurants could be looked at, she warns.

    She says if a cluster cannot be contained, that would put us in a dangerous position and the government will have to act.

  18. 'Critical role' of school nurses highlightedpublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    school nurseImage source, Getty Images

    Fiona McQueen, Scotland's chief nursing officer, highlights the "often unnoticed but essential" role of the school nurse, which she says has continued despite school closures since the end of March.

    Services worked flexibly and remotely, she says, and where necessary, face-to-face visits have also taken place.

    Nurses have been in an excellent position to help schools plan for reopening from 11 August, says Ms McQueen, and are "ready and waiting" to support children and young people as they return.

    School nurses make a "critical contribution" and are "uniquely placed to make a connection into families and communities", she adds..

  19. Extra £50m funding package announced for social carepublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    Jeane Freeman

    Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman announces a new funding package of up to £50m in support of social care, which she says has played a "critical role" during the pandemic.

    This is in addition to the £50m already previously announced, she says.

    The additional funding will support social care providers with help with Covid-19-related costs, including reductions in occupancy levels, additional staffing or sickness costs, enhanced infection and control measures and PPE, says Ms Freeman.

    "I have been clear from the outset that we will meet any increasing need for social care as a result of the pandemic," adds the health secretary.

    She hopes the extra funding is a "practical demonstration" of the government's commitment to supporting the sustainability and resilience of the sector in what has been a "hugely challenging" time.

  20. Remember FACTS to minimise coronavirus riskspublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 3 August 2020

    Ms Sturgeon reiterates the key messages of the government’s FACTS campaign:

    • Face coverings in enclosed spaces
    • Avoid crowded places
    • Clean hands and surfaces regularly
    • Two metre distancing; and
    • Self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms

    She ends by urging people to follow the guidelines, which are now more important than ever.