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Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

All times stated are UK

  1. Today's headlines

    As we bring our coverage of today's coronavirus developments to a close, here are Sunday's main headlines:

    • Local MP Ian Blackford says 28 out of 34 residents at a Skye care home and 26 of its 52 staff have tested positive for Covid-19.
    • A further 12 deaths of people who have tested positive have been reported in Scotland, bringing the total by that measure to 1,571.
    • Jeane Freeman says it is "very encouraging" that the number of patients in intensive care (99) is under 100 for the first time since 29 March.
    • The health secretary confirms an additional £200,000 in funding to help autism organisations deal with lockdown.
    • A Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic from Campbeltown has died after contracting Covid-19.
    • Prisoners on daily methadone prescriptions are to be switched to a weekly or monthly alternative to aid social isolation in jails.

    We'll be back with more live coverage tomorrow, as we enter a seventh week of lockdown. See you then.

  2. Family prepared to 'wait for truth and justice'

    Kevin Mcleod

    A review into how a man's death 23 years ago was handled by police and prosecutors is likely to be delayed due to the coronavirus crisis.

    Kevin Mcleod's body was found in Wick harbour on 9 February 1997.

    His family has long campaigned to have his death investigated as a murder.

    Mr Mcleod's uncle, Allan Mcleod, said the family had been advised of the delay, but added that they were prepared to wait for "truth and justice".

    Read more here

  3. Thief steals 101 wedding rings from jewellers closed by lockdown

    A thief has made off with wedding rings worth more than £100,000 after targeting a Midlothian jewellers closed by the coronavirus lockdown.

    The shop in Loanhead, which has been shuttered because of the pandemic, was broken into just after 23:00 BST on Friday night.

    A total of 101 wedding rings - of yellow gold, white gold, platinum and palladium - were stolen from the Beaverbrook jewellery store within the Next shop at the Straiton retail park.

    Police are keen to trace a man described as having an athletic, medium build, wearing light coloured clothing and riding a bike.

  4. Tackling salmon poachers in the lockdown

    Patrol
    Image caption: Ness District Salmon Fishery Board has had a team patrolling for poaching during the lockdown

    Scotland's salmon fishery boards are continuing to fight poaching amid the coronavirus lockdown.

    But Ness District Salmon Fishery Board in the Highlands said it and other boards were having to do this work with less resources.

    Boards have lost income because anglers who would normally be paying to visit rivers cannot go fishing due to lockdown restrictions.

    Anglers also help in alerting boards to poaching.

    The Ness board said it had a small, dedicated team still patrolling its rivers for illegal fishing.

  5. Violinist Benedetti offering free online music tuition

    Nicola Benedett
    Image caption: Nicola Benedetti is passionate about sharing her talent with young people

    Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti has assembled a team of musicians to offer three weeks of free music classes online.

    Beginning on 11 May, they will culminate in a huge online concert at the end of the month.

    The Ayrshire-born musician already offered online music classes through her own Benedetti Foundation, but the lockdown made her wonder whether they could reach an even wider audience on social media platforms.

    Although the sessions are free, donations are welcome.

    Nearly 800 people have signed up so far to teach or play, including fellow musicians The Ayoub Sisters.

    Read more here.

  6. Increase in support for Scottish drug users

    A person drinks a dose of methadone

    Prisoners on daily methadone prescriptions are to be switched to a weekly or monthly alternative to aid social isolation in jails.

    About one in four inmates is prescribed the heroin substitute but the prison service will now issue Buvidal,

    This treatment is administered by a seven or 28-day injectable dose.

    The Scottish government said the move would reduce the need for daily contact and reduce pressure on prison officers and the NHS.

    Read more here.

  7. 'Localised' restrictions could be reimposed - Gove

    Asked how people will be persuaded it is safe to go out when the lockdown is eased, Michael Gove says the government plans a "staged" return.

    Gove adds that ministers are also working with employers and unions to help workers understand safety guidance, and public servants will be offered protective equipment varying "from setting to setting".

    Without going into any detail, he also says it is possible restrictions could be reimposed in a "localised way" to counter flare-ups of the virus.

  8. PM to announce 'comprehensive plan' next week - Gove

    Michael Gove

    Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said the Prime Minister will next week set out a plan on how the country may be able gradually to ease lockdown restrictions.

    Gove said: "His comprehensive plan will explain how we can get our economy moving, how we can get our children back to school, how we can travel to work more safely, and how we can make life in the workplace safer."

    But Gove said before we can ease the existing restrictions, "we must ensure the government's five tests are met".

    The five tests include ensuring that the number of cases are falling, death rates are declining, the NHS is prepared, and that measures are in place to stop a second peak overwhelming the NHS.

    Gove added that: "We're consulting with employers and unions, professionals and public health experts, to establish how we can ensure that we have the safest possible working environments, and the prime minister will be saying more later this week."

  9. Will Scotland be using NHSX app?

    A Covid-19 tracing app introduced in Australia
    Image caption: Similar apps have already been introduced in other countries such as Australia

    The Scotsman wants to know if Scotland will be using the same contact tracing app which will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week.

    Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said conversations are ongoing with colleagues in England to understand if the system is compatible with the Scottish government's aims.

    Further news of the strategy the Scottish government is adopting and the tools they will use will be revealed early next week, she adds, while stressing that "test, trace and isolate" will be at the heart of that policy.

  10. Contact tracing app to be trialled on Isle of Wight

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Covid-19 app

    An NHS app aimed at limiting a second wave of coronavirus will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week, according to the UK transport secretary.

    It will be the first place where the new contact-tracing app will be used before being rolled out more widely this month, said Grant Shapps.

    The government will be asking the whole of the country to download it, he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

    "That will help with a lot of the automation of the tracking."

    Read more here

  11. Is age the best way to determine what measures could be eased first?

    Tom from Carers World Radio asked whether age is too "blunt an instrument" when considering how to ease lockdown restrictions, rather than assessing groups by activity and specific health risks.

    Jeane Freeman says it is an important point and the government will be "as open and transparent as we can" in informing the public how it reaches decisions, based on the advice it gets.

    Jason Leitch

    National clinical director Jason Leitch adds that when considering which people are most vulnerable, mortality numbers around the world "show us that even without pre-existing conditions, the over-70s are at too high a risk for us not to put them into that category".

    "I have family members who are equally irritated," he adds.

    Quote Message: We don’t put people in that category lightly. They have to be very, very careful if they have to leave home from Prof Jason Leitch National clinical director
    Prof Jason LeitchNational clinical director
  12. 'Significant' Covid-19 outbreak at Skye care home

    Portree
    Image caption: The outbreak has affected a care home in Portree

    A "significant" number of residents and staff at a care home on Skye have tested positive with Covid-19.

    The outbreak was first detected at Home Farm independent care home in Portree last week.

    In a joint statement, NHS Highland and Highland Council said there was no evidence it had spread further into the community, but urged islanders to adhere to government measures to tackle the infection.

    Ian Blackford, SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said having such an outbreak on Skye was "shocking and worrying".

    Mr Blackford said 28 of the home's 34 residents and 26 of its 52 staff had tested positive.

    NHS Highland and Highland Council have not released details on the number of cases.

    Read more here

  13. Breaking315 more coronavirus deaths across the UK

    Michael Gove

    Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has begun the UK government's daily update on the latest coronavirus developments.

    He reports that total of 28,446 people have now sadly died from Covid-19, an increase of 315 on Saturday’s total.

    These figures include deaths in hospitals, care homes and the community, but only for those who have tested positive for Covid-19.

    You can follow the latest updates here.

  14. Current letter on shielding 'can be confusing'

    A Social Bite social enterprise volunteer delivers free packed lunches to a resident in Edinburgh
    Image caption: Many elderly residents are relying on deliveries to their doorsteps

    Anita Stratton from Global asks if there are plans for updated advice to those in the shielded category in Scotland and points out that the letters people are receiving are still signed off by former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood, who resigned a month ago.

    "Individuals may be added to the list on the clinical advice of their GP," says Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who concedes the way the current letter is framed "can be confusing".

    Professor Jason Leitch refers back to his earlier clarification, saying it should be a 12-week period of isolation from 26 March.

    He says people on the list will receive advice close to the end of that period and he adds that Dr Gregor Smith, the interim chief medical officer, will be signing any new letters sent out.

  15. Restrictions 'not likely' to be eased next week

    Jeane Freeman

    In response to a question from Sky's Katie Spencer about easing locdown restrictions, Jeane Freeman says the Scottish government's preference is for a "consensus view across four nations - for simplicity of message", while stressing that their key task is to make the "right decisions for the people of Scotland".

    "We will set out the next steps in our current consideration next week," adds the health secretary, while making it clear that the existing restrictions are "not likely" to be lifted on 7 May, when they are next set for review.

  16. More data required on care home figures - Freeman

    Elderslie Care Home in Paisley where at least 22 residents have died

    Ross Govans from STV asks when are we likely to see a peak in cases in Scotland's care homes.

    Health Secretary Jeane Freeman replies that there is a need for more data to answer that specific question, outlining that at the moment 40% of care homes have an active Covid-19 case.

    She stresses that testing has been increased for staff and residents and links between homes owned by the same providers are being examined.

  17. Health secretary offers condolences to family of paramedic

    Jeane Freeman

    Dave Cowan from BBC Scotland asks how confident Jeane Freeman is that the ‘frontline of the frontline’ is getting the best protection available after the death of a paramedic from Argyll.

    The health secretary offers her “genuine and sincere condolences” to the family of the ambulance worker.

    She says her department continues to ensure orders of protective equipment are coming in, that suppliers are meeting delivery times and the modelling the government has done on demand, as well as chasing additional suppliers to add to the network.

    "All of that is looked at by me every single day to ensure that the volume is there and we maintain that pace and focused work," Ms Freeman adds.