A branch of Iceland in the west end of Glasgow is to open exclusively for the elderly and vulnerable for two hours on Wednesday.

Iceland on Byres Road has informed customers the move is designed to help the most needy complete their weekly shop.

The store, which is next to Hillhead subway station, will open to the elderly and vulnerable from 09:00 to 11:00.

Both of Aberdeen's universities are stepping up efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

The University of Aberdeen said it had given senior staff the authority to make arrangements for their teams to carry out home working.

There is also now no face-to-face teaching at Robert Gordon University (RGU).

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) is also suspending all face‐to‐face teaching at its member institutions, including Moray College, Orkney College and Shetland College.

North East Scotland College has also suspended face-to-face teaching at campuses.

However, Aberdeen schools remain open, including two which reopened this morning.

Vandals have made off with toilet rolls and soap dispensers from a "small number" of public toilets in the Scottish Borders.

The local authority said the incidents had happened at some of its facilities over the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

It asked all residents to "respect" the region's public toilets in order to let everyone use them.

In the meantime it has decided to leave just one toilet open in towns which have more than one facility.

Kevin Keane
BBC Scotland energy correspondent

Helicopter flights to and from the Maersk Highlander drilling rig in the North Sea have been suspended.

It follows a suspected coronavirus case on board.

The company said it was working with the authorities to get a testing kit offshore.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's oldest university has told students to "go home without delay if they can".

The university has just started its two-week spring holiday but has announced that all of its teaching and assessment will be done exclusively in online formats from 30 March.

A student tested positive for coronavirus after visiting Switzerland last week.

Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland education correspondent

The current advice suggests school closures are not currently needed.

There are examples of individual schools closing for deep cleans and there are instances of some reopening, having been closed previously for these cleans.

There are appeals to parents to continue to send their healthy children to school - but anecdotally there are stories of individual schools seeing almost half of children not attending.

NHS Grampian says it is restricting visiting times at its hospitals.

The health board says the move is to protect patients, relatives and staff.

Laura Pettigrew
BBC Scotland news website

At The Quay retail and leisure park in Glasgow things seem eerily quiet. There are very few people about and plenty spaces in the car park.

That said, it’s barely lunchtime yet and a lone security guard says things don’t normally get busy until later in the day “when the kids come out of school”.

The Odeon cinema is closed, with a sign just appearing on the door to say it will be "until further notice".

Burger King is open and has a few tables filled and Nandos, Frankie and Benny’s and the Harvester have their doors wide open but little or no customers inside at the moment.

One restaurant is shut. Panda Chinese Cuisine has a sign on the door saying it is closed due to the “fast spread of Coronavirus” and the “decline in business”.

At the Mecca bingo staff say they are open as normal and just waiting to hear what will happen. They say over the weekend things were a bit quieter than usual but still busy.

And they say a few of the customers already inside today are definitely in the “over 70s” category.

NHS Western Isles says all elective surgery will be cancelled after Friday until further notice.

The health board is also warning routine dental appointments will not be offered until further notice. All urgent and emergency services will continue.

Maternity services in the isles will be "largely running as normal", with the exception of the cancellation of parent classes which have been stopped for the next month.

NHS Western Isles chief executive Gordon Jamieson said the health service is in "uncharted territory".

He said: "The pandemic we now face, is going to cause severe and unprecedented challenge and disruption to health and social care services. The NHS and partner resources will be severely stretched."

No cruise ships will call at Invergordon in the Highlands next month, the local port authority has said.

Port of Cromarty Firth said the measure had been taken due to "ongoing developments" with Covid-19.

It said: "As the Covid-19 developments remain fluid, the cruise calls scheduled for May into Invergordon are under constant review.

"The port will follow the instructions, advice and guidance from the governing authorities and experts as it becomes available."

Graeme Ogston
Tayside and Central Reporter

Tourist attractions and entertainment venues in Dundee have begun closing their doors as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Dundee Rep Theatre, Dundee Contemporary Arts and the Dundee Museum of Transport have announced they are closing until further notice.

Dundee Rep said it anticipates the rest of its scheduled productions for this season will not take place.

The theatre’s artistic director Andrew Panton said the decision had been made with a “heavy heart”.

The government has issued five points that people in at-risk groups (over-70s, those with underlying conditions, and pregnant women) should follow "as much as you can":

1. Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus. These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough;
2. Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour, when possible; Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this
3. Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs
4. Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
5. Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services

Image source, Getty Images

Sally, 63, from the Scottish Borders, normally looks after two grandchildren during the day and picks up two older grandchildren from school.

Speaking on the BBC's Kaye Adams Programme this morning, National Clinical Director Jason Leitch advised her to find other childcare options if possible.

Sally is asthmatic and receives the flu vaccine - and is therefore in the higher risk category for Covid-19. She also has elderly parents, aged 93, 88 and 84.

Prof Leitch said this situation is the "perfect illustration" of the challenges people are faced with. He explained the main aim to the reduce social contact, which will mean considerable changes.

On childcare, he said: "I think my general advice would be if you can have them looked after somewhere else, you should have them looked after somewhere else.

"But if they have to come, then we're not going to bolt the door and not let them in. You should be cautious about this."

He recommended ensuring children wash their hands as soon as they come into the house, and to avoid hugs and kisses.

Image source, Melrose Rugby

The Melrose Sevens has been postponed due to coronavirus.

Meanwhile organisers have confirmed the cancellation of the Jim Clark Rally in the Borders from 29 to 31 May.

Lunchtime Live is underway and the team will bring updates on the coronavirus outbreak from around Scotland and beyond.

BBC Scotland's health correspondent Fiona Walker has been monitoring the situation from home where she is self-isolating.

The programme will focus on the advice on non-essential contact and for those in at-risk groups - the over 70s, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions.

We'll hear from Dr Andrew Buist, the chair of the BMA's GP Committee, as well as a report about the impact of the outbreak on rural communities.

Education correspondent Jamie McIvor will also have the latest on the status of Scotland's schools, the vast bulk of which remain open.

Meanwhile, fellow actor Idris Elba announces he has the virus - telling followers "no panic".