Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon says that a backlog on delivering test results is of "concern"

  • There were 70 positive cases in the last 24 hours - 2.7% of tests carried out - but that was thought to be less than the true figure

  • A maximum of six people from two households is the new meeting limit in Scotland

  • The rule will apply to gatherings both inside and outside households, however, children under 12 will not be counted towards the six

  • Restricting households are an important measure in fighting the virus, says the first minister

  • Tougher measures banning households from meeting in their homes are operating in a number of Scottish council areas and affect some 1.75 million people

  • Ms Sturgeon says that if the new rules are not followed, there is a danger that part of the economy - pubs and restaurants - might have to close again

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. Coronavirus in Scotland: The headlines

    Here are the key points from the briefing:

    • The stricter restrictions in the west of Scotland will be reviewed this afternoon
    • New tougher rules for face coverings in pubs, cafes and restaurants have also been introduced
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    • More than 900,000 people have now downloaded the Protect Scotland contact tracing app
    • The first minister points out she thinks the 70 new cases confirmed in the last 24 hours is lower than the real number as a result of the testing backlog
    • Ms Sturgeon is urgently seeking talks with the UK government on the testing issues

    That's all from us on the live page today. Please take care and stay safe.

  2. Is the current situation a 'second wave or a second bump?'

    covid waveGetty Images

    Mark McLaughlin from The Times asks the CMO about the ratio of positive tests.

    He asks if it is "a second wave or a second bump".

    Dr Gregor Smith explains that the situation is different from April. He says it is a different testing regime with symptomatic and asymptomatic testing.

    He says the proportion of tests returning positive are of a lower level and are from a different demographic.

    At this point in time it is a younger age group and we are not seeing that shown in a commensurate rise in hospital admissions or admissions to ICU. I don't believe we are in a second wave. The virus has never gone away. It is a rise in cases from a low baseline.

    Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer

  3. Six university walk-in centres will be open by end of September

    StudentsGetty Images

    Connor Matchett from the Scotsman asks about testing at universities and asks if the Scottish government is confident about students returning.

    Nicola Sturgeon says things can't be as normal for students and the sector is taking it seriously with extensive planning and safety measures.

    Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says the walk-in testing centre in St Andrews is open and one of two centres planned n Glasgow is due to open. By the end of September there will be six in the big university towns and cities, she says.

  4. Concerns about 'second wave' affecting care homes

    care home residentGetty Images

    Alistair Grant from The Herald says there are 78 care homes with current or suspected Covid cases, which seems to be creeping up.

    Will the government do things differently and prevent the substantial movement of people from hospitals to care homes, that was seen during the first wave, he asks.

    The Herald reporter also points out the Welsh government wants to see 30% of people working at or near home, and does Ms Sturgeon's government share that ambition.

    The first minister accepts the situation about transmission of the virus is of course a concern, but stresses "we are already doing things differently".

    Ms Sturgeon points out measures that are now in place to protect care homes, in terms of testing and guidance.

    As for working from home, the Scottish government's position is far closer to the Welsh government's than the Westminster administration's.

    "Our advice remains to be: work from home if you can."

  5. Sturgeon on schoolchildren: 'Every measure is a trade-off'

    High school children in masksGetty Images

    Simon Johnson from the Daily Telegraph ask if its realistic to expect schoolchildren to stick to the household rules outside the school gates.

    FM says her niece has asked her the same thing but that every measure they take is a "trade-off" which will make sure schools don't have to close again.

    These apparent inconsistencies are the essential trad- offs we have to make to try to protect our young people's ability to be back at school. The more we limit interaction for all of us out of school settings, the more likely we are to keep schools open. We decided to prioritise schools but the cost of that is restricting what pupils do out of school. We cannot do everything.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First minister

  6. 'It's the simple things that are going to make the biggest difference'

    Gregor Smith

    Derek Healey from The Courier turns to the R number and asks why it is higher here than in other parts of the UK.

    The first minister points out the R number becomes less important the lower the prevalence is.

    Dr Gregor Smith agrees and points out the R number is an unreliable source to use by itself to tell us where we are in terms of the pandemic curve.

    The interim CMO points out we haven't yet seen anything like the exponential growth seen earlier this year.

    The linear growth is still controlled and rising, but we are in a precarious position, adds Dr Smith and he warns we must do all we can to limit the ability of the virus to resurge.

    "Now we should be questioning whether that travel you are undertaking is really essential. Whether the trips you are making are as safe as they could be. It is the simple things that will make the biggest difference."

  7. Scotland affected by backlog in test processing

    testingGetty Images

    Jack Foster from Global has done some sums and says under 3,000 tests took place in the past 24 hours and under 7,000 in the previous 24 hours.

    He asks if the first minister is "flexing" the number of booking slots available due to the backlog.

    Ms Sturgeon says that the main testing system in Scotland is part of a UK-wide network. There was a suggestion over the weekend that available slots would be reduced. But she says the health secretary worked over the weekend to ensure that did not happen.

    We have no indication at the moment there is any significant issue in Scot with people accessing testing slots. The issue we are suffering some impact from is a backlog in the tests being processed which is leading to a longer turnaround time.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First minister

  8. WATCH: 900,000 download Protect Scotland app

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  9. FM concerned about backlog of tests across UK

    covid testGetty Images

    Ross Govans from STV asks how concerned should the public be that the testing regime is still not robust enough.

    The first minister says she is very concerned about it and stresses she has raised her concerns with the UK government.

    Ms Sturgeon points out many controls for the testing system are held by the UK government.

    She reiterates the Scottish government is seeking to constructively work to resolve the issues.

    Again, she warns that today's figures appear to not be complete.

    The first minister stresses she will be pursuing talks on the issue urgently this afternoon.

  10. Health services will take longer - Jeane Freeman.

    Jeane Freeman

    Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says "we all want the health services to start as they were before the pandemic but there are really important areas of context to hold in our minds thinking about how we mobilise the NHS".

    She praises the important work the NHS do in local health protection teams, trying to manage the outbreaks in places like Aberdeen, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire and Lothian. She says they also have to prepare for the delivery of the largest flu vaccine programme ever undertaken, with 2.25 million people to be vaccinated before the end of the year.

    She finally says, in the interim, the time it takes to deliver health services is longer - staff have to wear PPE and cleaning between appointments.

    She says all health boards are planning on that basis and trying to ensure the most urgent cases are prioritised.

  11. FM: 'If we act now we can keep it under control'

    Lisa Summers asks question

    Lisa Summers from BBC Scotland highlights the impact of rising demand for tests and asks how worried the first minister is about the number approaching the 5% of population testing positive that the WHO says is an indication of the virus being "out of control".

    Ms Sturgeon says they will continue to remobilise the health service and to also prepare it for the winter months.

    She refers to yesterday's positivity number and says it was 3.7% of those newly tested, an increase in the recent numbers and that she will be monitoring this in the days to come. She says France's positivity rate has gone over 5% and it is a reminder of the need to abide by all the rules and not allow it to grow any further.

    We have seen in the last couple of weeks a small increase in hospital admissions but we can't be complacent about that. Other countries are seeing a more substantial increase in admissions and sadly deaths so we must be cautious about that. If we act now we hope we can keep the other indicators under control.

    Nicola Sturgeon, First minister

  12. 'New cases in Scotland have been more than trebling'

    "New cases in Scotland have been more than trebling every three weeks in the last few weeks. That pattern is not sustainable," points out the first minister.

    "If we all act collectively now, our hope is that we can stem that increase."

    She adds: "So please, I'm asking everybody to stick to these new rules of six people in two households."

    Nicola Sturgeon stresses again people must follow the five pieces of advice in FACTS: They are:

    • 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

  13. New rules on face coverings for pubs and restaurants

    bar workerPA Media

    The first minister turns to new rules for pubs, cafes and restaurants:

    1. It is now mandatory to wear face coverings when not eating or drinking
    2. Staff who work in hospitality settings must wear face coverings from now on

  14. 'I'm aware this restriction is a really tough one'

    family meetingGetty Images

    The first minister says she believes we need to act now to decrease an even greater number of cases as we move into autumn and then winter.

    So, from today, a new law means limiting social gatherings to a maximum of six people from two households.

    That applies to indoors and outdoors, including private gardens, homes and pubs and restaurants.

    Children under the age of 12 do not count towards the limit of six, but they do count towards the limit of two households.

    The two household limit means that a meeting of three people is not allowed if they come from three households.

    "I'm aware this restriction is a really tough one, but restricting the number of households that can meet is important in reducing transmission rates."

  15. Transmission is higher than we can be comfortable with right now and that is the case across the country."

    Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

  16. Update on west of Scotland restrictions this afternoon

    nhs logonhs scotland

    The first minister reminds people that those living in in Glasgow city, Lanarkshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire cannot meet other households in their own homes.

    She hopes these restrictions will help reduce transmission in these areas.

    There will be a meeting later today to discuss the updated position in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

    Ms Sturgeon points out most parts of Scotland have seen a rise in cases in recent weeks.

  17. FM urges everyone to download Protect Scotland app

    Nicola Sturgeon

    Ms Sturgeon says 900,000 downloads is already enough for the app to make a difference.

    The first minister encourages everyone in Scotland to download it and to encourage friends and family.

    The government is especially keen for students to download the app.

    You can download it for free by searching for protect.scot and Ms Sturgeon reiterates reassurances about the privacy of the app.

    The first minister warns Scotland is in a precarious position with the percentage of people testing positive at 3% and with 244 new confirmed cases on Sunday.

  18. More than 900,000 people have downloaded Protect Scotland app

    covid appPA Media

    The first minister focuses on the continued number of high cases seen over the weekend.

    Ms Sturgeon stresses the vital importance of the new laws that have come into force, limiting social gatherings to a maximum of six people from two households.

    More than 900,000 people have now downloaded the Protect Scotland contact tracing app.

  19. Escalation of talks with UK government on testing issues sought

    covid testGetty Images

    Ms Sturgeon explains the concerns about the backlog of test results have been raised with the UK government.

    The first minister warns the apparent delay in turnaround is causing concern and an escalation of the talks with the Conservative government is being sought.

    She stresses the Scottish government is very keen to play its part in finding a solution to the problems.

    An update to today's figures will be given as soon as possible.

    264 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case (up five), with seven being treated in intensive care.

    No deaths were registered in the last 24 hours of people who tested positive, meaning the total remains at 2,499.

  20. FM warns 70 new confirmed cases lower than real figure

    Nicola Sturgeon confirms a further 70 people have tested positive for Covid-19, 2.7%% of those newly tested yesterday.

    This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 22,749.

    She explains today's numbers are lower but the government believes they are not yet complete.

    The first minister says the issue is being looked at urgently.

    The backlog of test results being faced by the UK lab network is starting to impact on the timeous reporting of Scottish results.