Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it is time to move to the next stage of planning.

"The most dangerous period is not now, but some weeks away, depending how far it spreads," he says.

However, new measures are going to be in place.

They include:

• Staying at home for seven days if you have, however mild, a new continuous cough or higher temperature
• Advise all those over-70s not to go on cruises
• Advise against international school trips.

Image source, bbc

We are considering the banning of major public events like sporting fixtures, says the prime minister.

Mr Johnson says the scientific advice is that banning such events will have little effect on the spread, but there is also the issue of the burden put on emergency services at these events.

He says the UK government is discussing these issues with the devolved nations and there will be more to say shortly on the timing of further action.

Nicola Sturgeon has announced the Scottish government will advise gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from the start of next week.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs starts the questions, asking how many additional ICU beds are now available.

Ms Freeman says planning revolves around increasing capacity and she aims to double the number of beds.

Labour's Monica Lennon asks about concerns that social care workers have run out of gloves, masks, and hand gel.

The health secretary says her department has been in contact with health boards, and is awaiting answers of potential gaps in provision, which will then be plugged.

Ms Lennon also asks about allowing the Old Firm match to go ahead this weekend.

Ms Freeman says people with symptoms should stay at home, and the mass gathering ban starts on Monday to allow the details to be finalised.

Image source, bbc

The prime minister begins saying he has chaired the Cobra meeting this afternoon with the administrations of the devolved nations.

"It is clear that coronavirus Covid-19 continues and will continue to spread across the world and our country over the next few months."

We've done what we can to contain the disease, he says, but the number of cases will rise sharply and indeed is higher than tests have revealed.

"This is the worst public health crisis for a generation."

From Monday the Scottish government is advising the cancellation of events of more than 500, says the first minister.

She says it is not the case that this will have a particular impact on reducing spread, in itself it does not have a significant impact.

The health secretary adds the reasons for the mass event ban are to protect frontline emergency services and to ensure consistency of message.

She points out none of these steps will make the virus go away, rather efforts are to minimise the impact on the NHS and protect the most vulnerable.

The importance of persistant hand washing and catching sneezes in tissues remains, she adds.

Local authorities and schools will be advised against overseas school trips.

School closures are not taking place, but that is under review, she says.

This is because children "will have to be somewhere" which could take their parents out of work, or put children into childcare where germs can still be spread.

Expert advice points to not closing schools too early, says Ms Freeman.

From tomorrow those individuals with symptoms indicative of the coronavirus will be asked to stay at homes for seven days.

Those symptoms are a dry cough or fever and if you have those you don't have to call your GP to self-isolate.

Image source, bbc

Ms Freeman explains this means we have moved from the containment to the delay phase.

The three priorities of this phase are:

• slow down the spread of the virus
• reduce the number of cases at the peak
• protect groups most at risk - the elderly and those with underlying health conditions

Jeane Freeman says her statement will be brief, as she will return on Tuesday with a further update.

She was at a Cobra meeting earlier this afternoon, she tells MSPs.

Ms Freeman says there are now 60 confirmed cases in Scotland, with a further two cases of community transmission.

We'll bring you reports on the prime minister's press conference and the questions to Scotland's Health Secretary Jeane Freeman here at Holyrood.

You can choose to watch either here on this live page.

Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from next week, the Scottish government is advising.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this was to free up emergency services, including police and ambulance crews, to deal with coronavirus.

She said it was not necessary to close schools and universities yet, but added that would remain under review.

An emergency coronavirus statement at Holyrood is imminent, as is a press conference with the prime minister at Westminster.

There have now been 60 cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Scotland - a rise of 24 from Wednesday.

• What events have been cancelled where you live?
• Coronavirus: Eleven of your most popular questions, answered

You will have a choice of viewing shortly: You can watch the prime minister's press conference or the emergency statement on the coronavirus at Holyrood.

Both are available on this page.

Image source, Reuters

Shares around the world are in free-fall as investors see the spread of coronavirus bringing the world economy to a halt and fear leaders are not responding effectively.

At the start of US trading, shares plunged and triggered an automatic temporary suspension in trading aimed at curbing panicky selling.

When trade resumed, shares continued to fall, following European markets lower.

The initial declines came after the US restricted travel from mainland Europe.

Read more

The Cobra meeting lasted for two hours and was chaired by the prime minister.

We're expecting to hear from Boris Johnson shortly.

It is not expected that the UK government will move to ban large gatherings.

Image source, bbc

Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from next week, the Scottish government is advising.

Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from next week, the Scottish government is advising.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this was to free up emergency services, including police and ambulance crews, to deal with coronavirus.

She said it was not necessary to close schools and universities yet, but added that would remain under review.

There have now been 60 cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Scotland - a rise of 24 from Wednesday.

NHS Lothian has the highest number of cases with 11. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has 10.

The first case of coronavirus transmitted within the communitywas detected in Scotland on Wednesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be self-isolating while he awaits the results of tests on his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

Mr Trudeau has no symptoms and is entering voluntary quarantine "out of an abundance of caution", the prime minister's office said.

"The doctor's advice to the prime minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring."

Ms Sturgeon says Boris Johnson may decide to do things the Scottish government decides not to do, but stresses there is much agreement between the four nations.

There will be aspects where we decide to do things differently

Stopping mass gatherings is not the best way to stop the spread of the virus, Dr Calderwood says.

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer says the risks of going to a football match at the weekend are relatively low.

She advises people with symptoms should stay at home and that includes people planning to go the football.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus you should not be going to a football match at the weekend, the first minister agrees.