• A further 1,604 people have tested positive for Covid – which is 9.2% of the tests carried out yesterday.
• There have also been 13 more deaths recorded in the past 24 hours of people who tested positive in the previous 28 days.

• First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says although case numbers remain high they are "on a downward path" and have declined by more than a third in the last fortnight.
• A total of 3,984,433 people in Scotland have received their first dose of the vaccine - 90% of the adult population.
• The total number fully vaccinated is now 2,995,086.
• Uptake rates are lower for 30 to 39-year-olds (81%) and 18 to 29-year-olds (70%).

• Ms Sturgeon says the decision not to vaccinate the majority of children will be kept under “close and ongoing review”.
• No decision has been taken on the requirement for mandatory vaccine passports in Scotland.
• Asked about allegations made by the prime minister's former chief adviser, the first minister says leaders should not be "glib or complacent about human life".
• Train operators have been told they are expected to follow Scottish Covid laws and guidance when operating north of the border.
• Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross says he is "sceptical" about calls for vaccine passports and criticises the decision to close the NHS Louisa Jordan vaccination hub in Glasgow.
• Labour's Daniel Johnson says the Scottish government must spell out what the new normal will look like and says "serious questions" have to be asked about the pace of vaccinations among younger people.

Image source, PA Media

A plan for Scotland’s health service to recover from the impact of dealing with Covid is set to be launched.

Dr Nicola Steedman, Scotland's deputy chief medical officer, says the strategy will set out how the NHS can catch up on the appointments and operations cancelled as a result of Covid.

Dr Steedman says the NHS is “very keen on learning from Covid” and how services can be offered in a better way.

The Scottish government official also says the strategy will have “supporting NHS staff” at its heart, given the toll Covid has had on many of them.

Are there any changes to the visiting rights in care homes?published at 13:20 British Summer Time 20 July 2021

13:20 BST 20 July 2021

Question from Stephen in Kilmacolm

Image source, Getty Images

In level zero, more than two "designated visitors" are allowed access to care homes.

The sector is also being encouraged to stop using the title as daily and group visits become the norm.

Visitors are now allowed to take lateral flow tests at home before visiting, rather than at the care home.

Inside the care home, physical distancing is now reduced to 1m while it is removed altogether outside in groups of 15 or less.

Face masks are also no longer required outdoors.

Can we dance at my daughter's upcoming wedding?published at 13:12 British Summer Time 20 July 2021

13:12 BST 20 July 2021

Question from Helen in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

While the levels system remains in place, no singing or dancing is allowed among the reception guests.

The only exception is the newlywed couple's first dance and a dance between the couple's parents, as long as they are in the same household.

Live entertainment, such as bands and DJs, is permitted but guests must remain seated at their tables.

One major development since the move to level zero is that the number of people who can attend a wedding has doubled from 100 to 200.

A sense of what the “new normal” is going to be for Scotland is needed from the Scottish government, Daniel Johnson MSP says.

The Scottish Labour MSP says the SNP administration has to let people and businesses know what life is going to be like for the rest of the year and beyond.

"We still seem to be stuck on very short-term thinking and we actually need to look at a long-term plan to get ourselves out of the pandemic,” he tells the BBC Scotland programme.

Mr Johnson also says "serious questions" have to be asked about the pace of vaccinations among younger people.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross says he is encouraged by the current virus statistics.

But he tells BBC Scotland's Coronavirus Update programme he is "sceptical" about calls for vaccine passports.

Mr Ross adds: "I think it means people will be treated differently because, for some people, there will be a very good reason why they can't get the vaccine."

On the issue of lower jab take-up rates among young people, he questions the decision to close the NHS Louisa Jordan vaccination hub at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

Mr Ross says: "I think we have got to look at opportunities for getting people vaccinated in every part of Scotland and that means keeping the Hydro and other vaccination centres open."

Can I travel to a red or amber list country from Scotland?published at 13:02 British Summer Time 20 July 2021

13:02 BST 20 July 2021

Question from Tom in Aberdeen

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government continues to warn people not to travel to red list countries, external or areas on holiday, or for any leisure purposes.

Those planning travel to amber list countries are advised not to assume that it will remain on the list, as the status of countries can change at short notice.

The amber travel rules have been relaxed for those who are fully vaccinated, which means an individual has received their second dose 14 days before leaving the country.

Before travel you must make sure you have a printed record of your vaccination, external from NHS inform and state that you have been fully vaccinated on your passenger locator form, external.

On return you must take a Covid-19 test, external before travelling and book and pay £88 for a Covid-19 test, external. This must be taken within two days of arriving in Scotland. There is no longer a requirement to self isolate.

But those who have not had their second jab must take two Covid tests on their return and self isolate for ten days.

Image source, Getty Images

Train operators have been told they are expected to follow Scottish Covid laws and guidance when operating north of the Border.

LNER was criticised for not enforcing social distancing rules when trains cross the border from England.

But Ms Sturgeon says she welcomes a review by the cross-border, UK government-owned operator.

“I would expect companies operating in Scotland to follow the law and guidance in Scotland - that is in my view what the public would expect.”

Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The JCVI has concluded that until there is more safety data on vaccines in children, then it is best only to offer it to those for whom there is a direct benefit. They say the vast majority of children will experience mild illness if they contract Covid so at this moment in time, the chance of rare vaccine side-effects is a greater risk.

But there is not universal consensus on this view. Some experts say that more attention should be paid to the possible complications of long Covid in children and the use of vaccines to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The Scottish government has always accepted the advice of the JCVI and will continue to do so here, but the country will face challenges first. Schools go back earlier here and Scotland generally has higher numbers of under-18s starting college or university than other parts of the UK. That could lead to a very disrupted start to term and some students feeling like they are unprotected as they move into halls of residence.

Given some other countries are already routinely vaccinating 12 to18-year-olds, this is one reason why the chief medical officer is writing to the JCVI asking for the decision to be regularly and closely reviewed.

Image source, Getty Images

James Matthews of Sky asks the first minister whether claims about Boris Johnson in a BBC interview with Dominic Cummings amount to a resignation matter for the prime minister.

Ms Sturgeon says she could not comment in detail about the allegations made by Mr Johnson's former chief adviser that the PM resisted autumn lockdown as only the over-80s were dying.

But she adds: "Nobody in a position like mine or Boris Johnson's should be glib or complacent about human life, whether that is the human life of a child, a young adult or an older adult.

"Human life is human life and as decision-makers I think it has been a heavy responsibility on all of our shoulders to try to take decisions that we recognise cannot save every person from this virus but that minimises the impact of it.

"Any leader who doesn't take that seriously should be asking themselves questions about whether they are fit for office."

Image source, Getty Images

No decision has been taken on the requirement for mandatory vaccine passports in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon says.

Answering a question from STV News, the first minister says the issue is under consideration after it was announced people going to nightclubs in England will have to be fully vaccinated by the end of September.

Ms Sturgeon says: “While there are arguments for requiring vaccination to allow entry to certain places, it raises sensitive, ethical and equity considerations - not least because there are some people who can’t get vaccinated because of health conditions.”

The first minister urges people to stick to the limits on household gatherings and wear face coverings.

She highlights the importance of regular testing, encourages people to follow basic hygiene rules and meet outdoors.

Ms Sturgeon adds: "All of these measures are as important now as they have been throughout."

The first minister urges people to continue to treat the virus "seriously" and follow all of the rules and advice.

She adds that the country took a further step back to normality on Monday but warns case numbers will remain high.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says the decision not to vaccinate the majority of children will be kept under “close and ongoing review”.

The Scottish government has accepted the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendation that only children over 12 who are at higher risk of falling ill from Covid will be offered the vaccine.

However, Ms Sturgeon sys she is “acutely aware” other countries are vaccinating all children and it is “extremely important that this is not ruled out here” .

The JCVI has ruled the risk to children’s health from Covid is currently “very low”.

The first minister confirms all adults have been offered first dose appointments and adds the milestone has happened earlier than anticipated.

She describes the uptake so far as "quite remarkable" by the standard of any previous vaccination programme.

Ms Sturgeon adds she wants to get as close to 100% uptake as soon as possible

She says: "To put it bluntly, each and every person who gets jagged helps us take a step back to normality."

To date, 90% of all adults have had the first jab.

But for 30 to 39-year-olds, the figure is 81% and for 18 to 29-year-olds it is 70%.

Image source, Getty Images

As of 08:30 this morning, 3,984,433 people in Scotland had received their first dose of the vaccine, an increase of 2,483 since Monday. That is 90% of the adult population.

In addition, 16,340 more people have received their second dose, taking the total number of fully vaccinated Scots to 2,995,086.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says although case numbers remain high they are "very much right now on a downward path".

To illustrate the point she adds that in the seven days up to 2 July, there were an average of 3,305 new cases being reported each day.

But in the seven days to 16 July, that had fallen to an average of 2,112 new cases a day.

Ms Sturgeon says: "That amounts to a decline in the past two weeks of more than one third and that is very encouraging".

Nicola Sturgeon begins with an update on the latest coronavirus figures.

The first minister confirms that a further 1,604 people have tested positive for Covid – which is 9.2% of the tests carried out yesterday.

This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 332,455.

There are 529 people in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, a decrease of seven, and 47 in intensive care, up two from yesterday.

There have also been 13 more deaths recorded in the past 24 hours of people who tested positive in the previous 28 days.

That brings the total number of deaths by that measurement to 7,813

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon will begin the Scottish government's coronavirus briefing shortly, with deputy chief medical officer Dr Nicola Steedman joining her.

You can follow the latest developments right here and watch or listen live by clicking on one of the tabs above - for coverage on the BBC Scotland channel or BBC Radio Scotland.

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Scotland has lost several music festivals this summer as organisers say it is impossible to deal with Covid rules.

Party at the Palace in Linlithgow and Doonhame in Dumfries are the latest to be scrapped at a few weeks' notice.

Scotland has moved to level zero of restrictions, but there are still limits on the size of outdoor events, with 2,000 seated or 1,000 standing.

Higher capacities must be agreed by the local council and Scottish government.

But this is not enough to make many festivals in Scotland viable for organisers. Level zero restrictions are set to remain in place until 9 August.

Read more here