Image source, PA Media

Douglas Ross says the seven deaths in the past 24 hours are a shock to him and he expresses his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families who have lost a loved one.

The Scottish Conservative leader says he called for the Self-Isolation Support Grant some time ago and he thinks it is right it is available across the UK.

He says he expects the money to pay from the grant to come from the UK government via Barnett consequentials.

Mr Ross points out the UK government has ensured there has been additional support for the devolved nations, with the Scottish government receiving an additional £6.5bn.

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Prof Linda Bauld, an expert in public health from the University of Edinburgh, tells the programme that Scotland "will not see the scale of harm again" in the care sector as it did in the spring.

She highlights that less than 10% of care comes have had positive cases and says "we're still doing really well" in protecting that sector.

One issue that is ongoing, she says, is the turn-around-time for tests for NHS staff - which is being looked into.

She says Scotland could not "completely" prevent the virus from entering care homes.

The Scottish Sun's reporter Christine Lavelle follows up on her question from yesterday about a limit of five adults at mother-and-baby groups.

Ms Sturgeon acknowledges the restriction and says it is in place because of the need to cut down on transmission from family to family.

She said "new ways" are needed to deliver the service, including holding more sessions.

The first minister added that "none of these restrictions are easy", especially for new mums.

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Isla Todd from the BBC says thousands of students are still self-isolating and asks if the first minister is confident the outbreaks are now under control.

The first minister says the outbreaks take more than a couple of days before the public health experts can say they are under control.

She is confident about the response to the outbreaks and that the appropriate steps are being taken to reduce transmission and break transmission chains.

Ms Sturgeon stresses that while we see the recent rise in cases being driven by the young, transmission is rising across the country and the age spectrum.

"Young people can get sick from this virus, but they can also pass it on to older vulnerable people who can also die as well."

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Ross Govans from STV says the latest Fraser of Allander report warns the Scottish economy is likely to be in limbo for at least the next six months.

Mr Govans asks if the first minister agrees the UK's Job Support Scheme is unlikely to protect jobs in the most vulnerable sectors.

"It is an assessment I would broadly agree with," replies Nicola Sturgeon.

She welcomes the UK government support "as far as it goes", however she adds the replacement for the furlough scheme does not go far enough.

Discussions are being sought with the UK government to enhance support available, as well as looking to see how essential public health measures will continue over the winter.

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Prof McQueen adds that the Pharmacy First Scotland programme has been launched which replaces the Minor Ailment Service in response to Covid-19.

The service is available to anyone through community pharmacies, enabling pharmacists to give advice on minor ailments such as sore throats, aches, pains, stomach upsets and rashes.

Pharmacies can also give people access to prescriptions if they run out and people cannot access their GP, Prof McQueen says.

She adds: "The NHS is open and putting in new services. People should not be afraid to contact their GP or NHS 24."

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Chief nursing officer Prof Fiona McQueen says that a number of NHS services that were closed or limited because of the pandemic have begun to reopen.

She says that opticians are now up and running with infection prevention measures, PPE and social distancing.

As a result, she said that the public should take advantage of the free NHS eye test "which can help detect eye and other health problems before they become more serious," she says.

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Scotland’s Social Security Secretary Shirley-Ann Somerville says financial support is expected to begin from 12 October for people being told to self isolate.

People who apply for the support will receive £500, administered through local authorities.

To be eligible, you must have to be told to self isolate through the Test and Protect programme.

If people can continue to work from home they should do so and should continue to be paid by their employer.

"It should be easy as possible to make applications and to receive the grant quickly," Ms Somerville says.

The first minister accepts self-isolation is really tough but stresses how crucial it is.

She says she hopes the Self-Isolation Support Grant will help people as they help us and help them to do the right thing.

Ms Sturgeon highlights the key public health advice, including not visiting anybody else's home at the moment. People should also think carefully about car sharing.

You can find out all the guidance at NHS Inform.

The first minister 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

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says the Scottish government will introduce a Self-Isolation Support Grant of £500.

Where people can work from home they should be supported by their employer, she adds.

The Self-Isolation Support Grant of £500 will help those on low incomes who would lose money due to self-isolating.

The first minister confirms seven additional deaths were registered in the last 24 hours of people who tested positive, meaning the total rises to 2,519.

"That figure of seven deaths is the highest I have had to report at one of these briefings since the 17th of June."

Nicola Sturgeon says the there were a total of 94 Covid admissions to hospital, an increase of 60% on the previous week.

She added that "we could not afford" complacency.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms a further 640 people have tested positive for Covid-19, 10.3% of those newly tested yesterday.

This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 29,244.

Health board breakdown:

Ms Sturgeon says the provisional data indicates the breakdown of new cases is as follows:

• NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde: 232
• NHS Lothian: 160
• NHS Lanarkshire: 73

The remaining are spread across 9 other health boards.

137 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case (up 14), with 15 being treated in intensive care (down one from 16).

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Nicola Sturgeon will be joined at today's briefing by Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and Scotland's chief nursing officer Prof Fiona McQueen.

Yesterday's daily figures from Public Health Scotland reached a record with 806 people testing positive for Covid-19 in the preceding 24 hours.

But the first minister has said that figure was likely to include a high number of results from the weekend.

Meanwhile the prime minister is facing MPs at PMQs - before holding a press conference in Downing Street this evening.

A total of 4,257 Scots deaths have been linked to Covid-19, official figures show.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures indicate 10 people died in the week ending 27 September.

The figures are higher than the daily figure announced by Nicola Sturgeon because they include all cases where Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate, even if the patient had not been tested.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Nicola Sturgeon will lead the Scottish government's daily coronavirus briefing from 12.15pm.

Today she is joined by Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and Scotland's Chief Nursing Officer Professor Fiona McQueen.

How to watch and listen:

• On BBC One Scotland the programme will have the main part of the daily briefing, but also the voices of health experts and politicians from other parties. Today we will hear from Professor Linda Bauld and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.
• Meanwhile, if you prefer, you can watch the whole of the briefing with all the questions from journalists on the BBC Scotland Channel
• Or you can listen to the briefing on Lunchtime Live on BBC Radio Scotland

All three are available here on this live page.

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Police officers in Scotland dealt with far fewer violent crimes, housebreakings and road casualties while the country was in lockdown, according to new statistics.

However Police Scotland's latest quarterly report, external shows there was an increased number of domestic abuse incidents, online child sexual offences and frauds between April and June.

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor described the months as "an extraordinary period for Scotland and, indeed, the world." Here are some of the key points from the report.

Police Scotland's latest quarterly report

Good morning and welcome to BBC Scotland's rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday 30 September 2020.

We're expecting the National Records of Scotland weekly Covid-19 statistics soon.

Remember the NRS weekly figures for deaths include where Covid is mentioned on the death certificate and are thus much higher than the daily figure.

Image source, Getty Images/PA Media

Yesterday's daily figures from Public Health Scotland reached a record with 806 people testing positive for Covid-19 in the preceding 24 hours..

But the first minister has said that figure was likely to include a high number of results from the weekend.

The prime minister is about to face MPs at PMQs - before holding a press conference in Downing Street this evening.

The first minister is expected to hold her regular briefing shortly.