Deputy First Minister John Swinney says vaccine rollout is making "good progress" and he reiterates a pledge that all over 70s would be offered their first Covid-19 jab by mid-February
Scotland's national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch says the R number, which is around one, gives encouragement that virus spread is "decelerating"
Mr Swinney, who is also education secretary, says "ideally" a two-week notice period will be given to parents ahead of schools re-opening
A further 89 deaths of people who had tested positive for coronavirus have been registered in the past 24 hours
Positive cases increased by 1,636, which is 7% of those tested. The number of people who have received their first vaccination stands at 334,871
Scotland's biggest accident and emergency department, at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, reports seeing patients who are "sicker"
In a special report, BBC Scotland's health correspondent Lisa Summers spoke to medics who say they are treating people now who have not sought healthcare "for six to 10 months"
New data from National Records of Scotland reveals that last year Scotland recorded the highest number of peacetime excess deaths since 1891
Dame Anne Glover warns against "fake news" about the vaccines.
The president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and former Chief Scientific Advisor to the Scottish government tells the BBC she really welcomes the government's campaign for rolling out the vaccine.
She says the vaccine is, by all the usual standards, safe and will get us back to a normal life.
A new campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible launches today.
The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will emphasise the importance of the vaccine and its safety, as well as the prioritisation list set out by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to ensure those most at risk are vaccinated first.
Vaccination will be offered to 4.5 million people in Scotland and is currently underway for residents of care homes for older people and their carers, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 80 years and over.
Local delivery is being led by NHS boards, who will contact those eligible to arrange their vaccination.
Those aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable, including those on the shielding list will receive their first vaccine dose by mid-February, those aged over 65 will receive their first doses by the beginning of March, and vaccination of the wider adult population will commence once the remainder of the JCVI priority groups are complete by early May.
Image source, PA MediaInterim Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Dave Caesar said:
“No matter which vaccine you receive, each has passed a rigorous three-phase testing process, reviewed by independent regulatory and advisory bodies to ensure it is safe and effective.
For more information visit nhsinform.scot/rollupyoursleeves, external or call 0800 030 8013.
The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will run from 21 January to the end of March 2021 on TV, radio, press, outdoor and digital channels.
As of 21 January:
Covid in Scotland: FM insists vaccine roll-out 'not lagging behind'
Scotland's first minister has insisted that the country's Covid vaccination programme is not lagging behind other parts of the UK.
Opposition leaders have raised concerns that many GPs have not yet been given supplies of the jab.
And they accused the government of changing its target date for when all over-80s should have received their first dose.
Nicola Sturgeon admitted that target dates may have to be "refined".
Tackling poverty and inequality can be central to Scotland’s recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a new report.
The Social Renewal Advisory Board has published 20 Calls to Action to help create a fairer country, with recommendations around the themes of Money and Work; People, Rights and Advancing Equality; and Communities and Collective Endeavour.
The report, If not now, when?, will be considered by the Scottish Government.
The report calls for the Scottish government to:
1. Scottish government: Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do, external
From Tuesday 5 January, mainland Scotland moved from Level 4 to a temporary lockdown, with new guidancet o stay at home, external except for essential purposes. Some islands remain at Level 3, external.
On Saturday, five new rules came into force to tighten restrictions around certain areas including click and collect, takeaways and alcohol consumption outdoors.
On Monday, travel corridors were suspended after a new Covid-19 variant was identified in Brazil.
2. Postcode checker, external for Covid restrictions by protection level in areas of Scotland
The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.
If you have Covid-19 symptoms go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test
The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.
5. The ready.scot, external website
It has been updated with the latest help and advice and how you can help others. The helpline number remains: 0800 111 4000
6. The Clear Your Head website, external
It's ok to not feel yourself right now, here are some tips to help get you through the pandemic.
Covid in Scotland: The headlines
Image source, JAMES CHAPELARDThe emergency department at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is the biggest and busiest in Scotland.
Image source, PA MediaDeputy First Minister John Swinney pictured with Nicola Sturgeon last March.
Welcome to the BBC's rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland on Thursday 21 January 2021.
We'll bring you coverage of John Swinney''s coronavirus briefing from 12.15pm.
You can watch proceedings live here, with coverage on BBC One Scotland and also the BBC Scotland channel from 12pm.