Coronavirus in Scotland - Easter lockdown continues

1. Nicola Sturgeon tells her latest briefing that despite a review this week on lockdown, the stringent measures are unlikely to be lifted
2. The death toll in Scotland from Covid-19 stands at 575 - following a further nine fatalities added to the official list
3. The total number of deaths in the UK has reached 11,329.
4. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman reports that 37% of the country's care homes have coronavirus cases
5. More than 1.8 million people have been confirmed as having been infected globally, according to a US university count

Goodnight

Thanks for following BBC Scotland's live page of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are today's headlines:

• There have now been 575 deaths with coronavirus in Scotland, an increase of nine from yesterday
• 6,067 people have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 155

• The first minister says the coronavirus lockdown not likely to be lifted in the very near future
• The UK government's chief scientific adviser predicts the number of people with Covid 19 who die in hospitals will reach its peak this week

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led the latest coronavirus media briefing

• A new telephone helpline for people facing significant challenges from Covid-19, but not in the shielded group is launched: 0800 111 4000 (during working hours from tomorrow)

• Interim CMO Dr Gregor Smith says don't delay funerals
• Several elderly residents have died with coronavirus at a Scottish care home in Drumchapel

• Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced an additional £600m to help Scotland's public services respond to the Covid-19 pandemic

£50m emergency fund open to third sector organisations

Confused? Here's where to find the latest advice in Scotland

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There is a flood of information appearing across news channels and social media and it can be difficult to keep on top of the latest advice.

So here are our top tips of five places to go to answer your questions...

1. NHS Inform

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing and stay at home advice.

2. Ready Scotland

Staying at home does not mean you are alone - there are many ways you can help your community.

3. Citizens Advice Scotland

Providing advice on benefits and employment rights.

4. Business Support

The latest advice and support for businesses.

5. Parent Club

Useful information on how to cope with home schooling and keeping your family safe.

UK government defends its system of PPE distribution

The UK government has defended its system of supplying protective equipment to carers in Scotland after it was highlighted that the four largest manufacturers of PPE in the UK were prioritising homes in England.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland this morning, chief executive of Scottish Care, Dr Donald Macaskill, said those working in the social care sector north of the border faced a potential problem of not receiving protective kit.

However, the UK government's department of health and social care has responded by saying suppliers deliver PPE to a central UK stockpile which is then distributed to all four nations.

A spokesman said: “The Department of Health and Social Care is working very closely with the devolved administrations in ensuring there is sufficient PPE to meet the clinical need across the health and social care sector.

“PPE supplies are being coordinated at a UK-wide level and allocation made based on clinical need across the whole country, which ensures a planned and coordinated response to this global pandemic."

Supply routes have been set up within each nation to provide PPE to frontline services."

Department of Health and Social Care spokesman

Will UK ministers apologise over PPE failings?

The Scot who discovered coronavirus

Drivetime with John Beattie

BBC Radio Scotland

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Did you know that it was a Scot who first identified and named the first coronavirus?

Medical writer George Winter has been highlighting the discovery by Dr June Almeida back in 1964 on Drivetime.

Born in 1930 in a Glasgow tenement and having left school at 16, June Hart started work as a laboratory technician and returned to Britain in 1964 after having developed her skills in electronmicroscopy in Toronto.

While working at St Thomas's Hospital in London, she collaborated with Dr David Tyrrell, who was running research at the common cold unit in Salisbury in Wiltshire.

They sent a common cold sample to Dr Almeida, who had by then married a Venezuelan artist,

"She had a look down the electon microscope and she saw what became known as the first human coronavirus," Mr Winter told John Beattie. "And it was written up i the British Medical Journal in 1965."

Raab highlights successes amid criticism

Dominic Raab is pulled up on his remark that the government plan was working - with the government facing criticism for the death toll and lack of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

The foreign secretary says they have been making sure the NHS is protected by making people follow social distancing advice, for starters.

"It is difficult when you look at the death toll but there are tentative signs of it flattening out."

Mr Raab says the second success is the increase is capacity in the NHS, when it comes to critical beds and ventilators.

"I am not saying there haven't been challenges, but we have got ourselves into a good place."

Raab: Crisis 'still at peak stage'

UK government reviewing mask guidance

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UK government chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance

Patrick Vallance, the UK government's chief scientific adviser, says there is a review ongoing at the moment over evidence on the impact of wearing masks.

Mr Vallance says they have already seen "more persuasive" data on it stopping you passing on the virus, rather than catching it.

But the advice has yet to change, he adds.

£600m extra UK funds for Scottish public services

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Rishi Sunak has increased the UK's public services fund budget

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced an additional £600m to help Scotland's public services respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The injection has been welcomed by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who says it "will go a long way in helping public services" respond to the "huge challenge".

Mr Jack says it takes the total made available to Scotland as a result of the crisis to £3.3bn.

Here's the UK picture...

Raab: Our plan is working despite 'grizzly' toll

Dominic Raab opens the briefing by saying thanking St Thomas' Hospital where Boris Johnson was treated, and all the staff working over the weekend across the whole of the NHS.

"Can I also take the opportunity to thank all those who chose to stay at home," he says, adding the overwhelming majority of people did just that.

Mr Raab confirms the total number of deaths in the UK has reached 11,329.

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Dominic Raab is leading the UK government briefing

The foreign secretary says despite the "grizzly figures", there is some hope in the numbers, saying the lockdown measures are slowing the spread.

But he doesn't expect any changes to be made to lockdown measures currently in place until they can be confident they can be made safely.

He also promises the government is ramping up testing, while the chancellor and business secretary are "working round the clock to mitigate the damage this crisis has undoubtedly done to our economy".

Mr Raab asks people to keep keep following the guidance and to stay home.

Eight crew members of cruise ship have Covid-19

Several deaths with coronavirus at Drumchapel care home

The UK government briefing is underway...

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Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who's recovering after spending a week in hospital with coronavirus.

Mr Raab is joined in Downing Street by Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser.

Coronavirus in Scotland: 575 deaths due to virus now confirmed

Here's the main points from today's Scottish government briefing:

• There have now been 575 deaths with coronavirus, an increase of nine from yesterday
• 6,067 people have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 155
• a total of 31,813 people have now been tested
• 211 people are now in intensive care
• FM says coronavirus lockdown not likely to be lifted in the very near future

BBC

Nicola Sturgeon led the media briefing earlier today

• A new telephone helpline for people facing significant challenges from Covid-19, but not in the shielded group is launched: 0800 111 4000 (during working hours from tomorrow)
• Charities can now bid for cash from £50m government wellbeing funds
• Interim CMO says don't delay funerals
• health secretary reveals ICU capacity has trebled to 585 beds
• Concerns about care homes acknowledged by first minister, better data is promised later this week

Drivetime is about to start on Radio Scotland

Drivetime with John Beattie

BBC Radio Scotland

As the UK coronavirus death toll rises to 11,329, Radio Scotland's Drivetime will cross live to Downing Street for the UK government briefing.

Here's what else is coming up on the programme today:

• all the latest news from around Scotland as Nicola Sturgeon warns, despite a review this week on the lockdown, the stringent measures are unlikely to be lifted
• the programme will also bring you right up to date with the global picture

Coronavirus outbreak on cruise ship in Firth of Forth

Eight crew members have tested positive for Coronavirus on a cruise ship in the Firth of Forth.

The Black Watch ship operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has no guests on board and is operating with a “skeleton crew”.

Fred Olsen said eight crew members have tested positive for Covid-19 and six other staff onboard are awaiting results.

A number of Fred Olsen ships are sitting in the Firth of Forth as the company has “paused operations” amid the pandemic.

'Hey baby, I was supposed to marry you'

A couple who were due to get married in Ayrshire at the weekend have surprised family and friends with a musical message aimed at celebrating what should have been their special day.

Jeremy Levif and his partner Kirsty Walker, who live in Prestwick, recorded a specially reworked version of the Bruno Mars song Marry You.

Jeremy is from France and the couple took the decision to postpone their wedding, which was due to take place at Sorn Castle on Saturday, a month ago after France went into lockdown and it became clear family and friends would be unable to attend.

They said: "We wanted to do something to celebrate the day and show that we are not too downhearted and just excited and now looking forward to when it actually happens.

"We've had a lovely response. I think people were more emotional about it than us. Some cried.

"But in the grand scheme of things a wedding being postponed is not the worst thing in the world and everyone has been so accommodating."

They hope the wedding will now go ahead at Sorn Castle on 12 August.