Coronavirus in Scotland: Eat out scheme starts & 18 new cases

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

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

Health secretary says lockdown could be rolled backpublished at 08:42 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
Scotland's health secretary has said there could be a rolling-back of lockdown restrictions if there are further Covid outbreaks, such as the 13 cases linked to the Hawthorn Bar in Aberdeen.
Jeane Freeman told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme there could be consequences for the indoor hospitality sector if there is a spike in cases.
Quote Message
We suppressed the virus to the level we did because of lockdown, but you can't stay in that state forever. As you begin to ease it, you expect to see outbreaks and the point of test and protect is to capture and conclude them to prevent a wider spread into the community. So all of the options that were part of the lockdown...remain there to be used if we think we need to do so.
Jeane Freeman, Health Secretary
ScotRail urge customers to take personal responsibility over physical distancingpublished at 08:29 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
The chief executive of ScotRail has asked people to take "personal responsibility" when it comes to social distancing.
It comes as more than 90% of the railway operator's normal services resume across the country.
Alex Hynes told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We don't want to constrain access to our services, so we're asking customers to take personal responsibility, just like when we've be going to the supermarket or walking down the street during lockdown.
"Don't board if it's not safe to do so. We've spent lots of time and effort making sure our network is safe. It's for the individual customer to make sure that they don't put themselves in a position where physical distancing isn't possible."
Scotland's four city science centres to receive £2m in emergency funding ahead of autumn reopeningpublished at 08:13 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Image source, Getty Images
The Dynamic Earth attraction in Edinburgh, along with the science centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee are being offered the money to weather the effects of the pandemic.
The cash will be in addition to the £2.67m the Scottish government provides to the science centres annually.
The centres employ about 400 staff and will have new safeguards in place to protect visitors.
Scotland's papers: Pub outbreak and the 90-minute virus testpublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Several newspapers lead with the story that confirmed coronavirus cases in Scotland reached their highest daily total in more than eight weeks over the weekend, as a number of infections are linked to a pub in Aberdeen.
Other papers cover the new 90-minute virus test that will help "transform" the war on the virus. The test is due to be rolled out to hospitals and care homes this week.
See more of Scotland's front pages.
What's going to the drive-in like in Scotland?published at 07:43 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Scotland is fairly new to "drive-in" culture, but with cinemas still closed or suffering from Covid restrictions, it has become a popular way to get out to the movies.
I first went to a drive-in in Scotland seven years ago.
To be honest, it wasn't quite the scene I imagined from watching classic US films such as Grease.
There were no gleaming Cadillacs with the hoods pulled down, packed full of preening teenagers with eyes on each other rather than the film.
Read the full article here
ScotRail to run 90% of normal servicespublished at 07:28 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
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'Reverse gear' warning over Covid clusterspublished at 07:13 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Image source, bbc
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.
"There could come a time when we have to go backwards, no question, if we began to see clusters developing or community transmission at a higher level around the country," said Prof Leitch.
Read more here.
What happened over the weekend?published at 07:06 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Health officials in Aberdeen revealed they were investigating a new Covid cluster linked to a bar in the city.
Figures released on Sunday showed the daily count of coronavirus cases in Scotland jumped by another 31 from Saturday's tally. That is the biggest daily increase for weeks and one more than the 30 reported on Friday.
Despite the rise, there were no new deaths as a result of coronavirus reported for the 17th day in a row.
Good morningpublished at 06:55 British Summer Time 3 August 2020
Image source, Getty Images
Welcome to Monday's live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland.
The first minister will resume her daily coronavirus briefing from 12:15 today. We'll bring you all the details and the latest figures.
Also, we'll keep you up to date with developments as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.
From today, breast screening programmes will resume, as will routine eye care, counselling services and some sports coaching.
Stay with us for all the latest.