Testing of students dominates First Minister's Questions

Summary

Two deaths linked to Covid-19 have occurred in the last 24 hours. There have been 465 new positive cases which is 7.9% of those newly tested
Ahead of FMQs, Nicola Sturgeon says that when the R number - the rate at which someone who is positive infects others - is published later it could be as high as 1.6
Scottish Conservative MSP Ruth Davidson questions the trace and protect system and states that contact tracers "are needed more than ever"
All opposition leaders press Ms Sturgeon on why a better testing system for students was not in place before the start of the academic year
Elsewhere, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces the UK government will top up wages of workers covering up to two-thirds of their hours for next six months

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

Job Support Scheme - detailspublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 24 September 2020
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WATCH: Chancellor says UK government will support wages of people in workpublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 24 September 2020
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Covid-19 in Scotland: The headlinespublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 24 September 2020
Here are the headlines from the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland:
- A major outbreak of Covid-19 at Glasgow University has led to 124 students testing positive
- Scotland's national clinical director is "very concerned" about outbreaks at several universities, including Aberdeen, Abertay and Napier
- Nicola Sturgeon has written to Boris Johnson calling for calling for urgent four-nation talks to tighten lockdown restrictions further
Image caption,
A number of outbreaks linked to universities have been confirmed in Scotland
- Yesterday Scotland recorded 486 new positive coronavirus tests which represented the biggest single day's number since mass testing began
- Covid-19 contact tracers have contacted fewer than one in 20 Scots who were required to quarantine after travelling abroad since June
- The Scottish government has toughened the coronavirus restrictions, external in a bid to slow the spread of the virus
Sunak announces new 'Job Support Scheme'published at 12:10 British Summer Time 24 September 2020
Breaking
The chancellor says the furlough scheme will end because the support must "adapt and evolve".
He said no decision was harder but it is "fundamentally wrong" to keep people in unviable jobs.
Here is the detail from the Treasury...
Image source, Treasury
You can follow live updates on the announcement here.
Good afternoonpublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 24 September 2020
Image source, Fraser Bremner Daily Mail/Scottish Parliament
Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Scotland's live page coverage of first minister's questions.
Nicola Sturgeon will provide an update on the coronavirus pandemic when she gets to her feet at Holyrood from 12.20pm.
She can expect questions on Scotland's new coronavirus restrictions, student outbreaks and the approach to testing.