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The first minister highlights new guidance from the Scottish government today for call and contact centres.

Non-essential premises are to remain closed until at least 14 September, she reiterates, but the guidance today will ensure contact and call centres can operate safely.

Turning to the reopening of schools next week, Ms Sturgeon highlights various grants and funding available for families who are struggling financially, including the school age grant.

The first minister urges people to think carefully about how often they need to go to a pub or restaurant.

She says it is largely younger people who have been gathering with little or no social distancing in place. She adds that images of gatherings on social media at the weekend “made me want to cry".

Every time one person flouts the rules they put all of us at risk, she adds.

Ms Sturgeon says it takes enormous effort and enormous resource to manage the pandemic response and she urges people to reduce the risk of transmission by physically distancing, washing hands and wearing face coverings.

Ms Sturgeon confirms there have been a number of small outbreaks of "relatively low numbers", with the most significant in Aberdeen.

A total of 13 positive cases have been identified as associated with this cluster - but Ms Sturgeon warns that number may rise.

She thanks staff at the Hawthorn bar for acting swiftly in response to the outbreak.

The first minister warns more clusters are likely in the weeks ahead, which was "exactly what we feared" when the decision to reopen hospitality was taken.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms there have been 18 additional positive coronavirus cases in Scotland, which accounts for 0.7% of people newly tested.

That takes the overall number of positive cases to 18,694.

Provisional information suggests that 11 of the 18 new cases are in the Grampian Health Board area, but the first minister can't yet say if some or all of these are linked to the outbreak in Aberdeen, where a cluster of 13 cases emerged.

Six of the new cases are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with one in Lothian.

265 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case, which is the same as yesterday, with three being treated in intensive care - also the same as yesterday.

No deaths were registered in the last 24 hours of people who tested positive during the last 28 days, meaning the total by that measure remains at 2,491.

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will provide an update on Scotland's response to coronavirus this afternoon at 12:15.

She will also provide the latest figures.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman and Chief Nursing Officer Fiona McQueen will also be at the briefing.

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

The beginning of August would usually mark the start of the biggest arts festival in the world in Edinburgh.

But unfortunately, like most major events, the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

Arthur Smith, a comedian and Fringe veteran, says he was "utterly heartbroken" when it was cancelled - and he plans to spend much of August in the capital anyway.

He will be hosting a walking tour on the history of Edinburgh and its festivals with small groups, who will be instructed to wear face masks and socially distance.

"I've measured out my life in Edinburgh Festivals in one way or another," Mr Smith says. He has been to the Fringe every year, bar two, since 1977.

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

Professor Linda Bauld says she hasn't eaten indoors since venues reopened - but would do, provided premises have the right measures in place.

The public health expert is taking a break later this week and will be staying at a hotel with an indoor restaurant.

"I don’t feel any concerns about that," she tells BBC Radio Scotland. "I've spoke to them, and there is lots of information on their website. I feel the numbers are low so we're going to give it a try."

She says people should "have a word" with staff at venues if it appears they are not following the guidance, and avoid going into crowded places.

Image source, Reuters

Pupils across Scotland will find out their course results tomorrow.

Grades for qualifications including Highers and National 5s will be based on estimates by teachers.

Exams were cancelled this year for the first time ever.

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New 90-minute tests that can detect coronavirus and flu will be rolled out in care homes and laboratories from next week.

The "on-the-spot" swab and DNA tests will help distinguish between Covid-19 and other seasonal illnesses, the government said.

The UK health secretary said this would be "hugely beneficial" over the winter.

Currently, three quarters of test results are returned within 24 hours and a quarter can take up to two days.

Read more.

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Reuters

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, says she understands the need to get the hospitality sector up and running again, but "venues are not risk-free".

It is "too soon" to be crowding into areas where people cannot socially distance, she thinks.

If people want to take advantage of the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, they should look very carefully whether a venue has additional mitigation measures in place:

• No standing in the bar area
• A table layout to ensure adequate spacing - people back to back, and side to side
• Face coverings for staff
• Ventilation is "absolutely key"
• It is not a noisy venue where people need to shout
• There is signage where it is 1m distancing
• Are your contact details being taken?

Image source, British Curling

Training has resumed for top-class curlers, after the restrictions in place during lockdown were eased.

British Curling said they are returning to the purpose built National Curling Academy in Stirling today.

“We may have lost three weeks on-ice, since the players would normally have returned to training in mid July, but they have been following closely monitored training schedules to ensure that they are in peak condition when they do get back ahead of a vital season,” said performance director Nigel Holl.

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Cyclists will be able to get free bicycle repairs worth up to £50 from today.

The Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme has gone live at about 100 shops across the country. 30,000 bike repairs or maintenance jobs can be carried out as part of the Scottish government initiative on a first-come basis.

Registration is not required, people can simply turn up at participating shops until the £1.5m fund runs out.

Suzanne Forup, head of Development in Scotland, said: "We know a lot of families have been hit hard by Covid and we want to make sure that people are able to choose cycling."

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

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Alan Henderson, a director of the McGinty's Group, which owns a number of restaurants in and around Aberdeen, says he understands why some people are still cautious about venturing out but the government's scheme is an "excellent initiative" to help business.

"There is definitely pent-up demand there," he says. "Indoor venues won’t be as busy because people are more cautious but our outdoor venues have certainly been very busy since we opened up."

Customers must now leave their contact details at the front door and be led to their table where staff explain the changes - including no longer pouring wine, which customers must now do themselves.

With regular compliance checks from the police, environmental health and licence standards officers, Mr Henderson believes "good operators" will continue to thrive.

"I'm confident that if you have good premises and you manage them properly, you will come through it," he adds.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Diners are now entitled to 50% off at cafes, pubs and restaurants when they eat out at the start of the week.

The UK government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme aims to help the hospitality industry recover from coronavirus.

Helen McBride, who is general manager at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, has signed up to it and told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme it will be a big help.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman told Good Morning Scotland earlier the government will continue to review lockdown restrictions. She said the priority remains ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable people in society.

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Routine eye care, breast cancer screening and counselling support groups are among the services resuming as coronavirus restrictions ease.

The relaxation is part of the Scottish government's route map out of lockdown, external in the wake of the pandemic.

Other changes scheduled for Monday will see rules relaxed on outdoor sports coaching.

It comes after shielding was paused at the weekend for people considered more vulnerable to Covid-19.

Read more.

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

From today, diners across the UK will be able to enjoy a discount of up to 50% off their bills. The UK government scheme known as 'Eat Out to Help Out' will be valid from Mondays to Wednesdays throughout August in an attempt to boost the struggling hospitality industry.

Stephen asks: are you prepared to Eat Out to Help Out?

Image source, Getty Images

Also on the programme...

• How has the cancellation of the Edinburgh Festivals impacted artists and local businesses?
• How do you manage and maintain good team-working relationships while working from home?
• How are you getting ready for non-exam results due out tomorrow morning?

The number of deaths from coronavirus in Iran is nearly triple what Iran's government claims, a BBC Persian service investigation has found.

The government's own records appear to show almost 42,000 people died with Covid-19 symptoms up to 20 July, versus 14,405 reported by its health ministry.

The number of people known to be infected is also almost double official figures: 451,024 as opposed to 278,827.

Read more about Iran's Covid crisis.

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