Coronavirus Scotland LIVE as lockdown pressure eases, the nation’s recovery continues

John Swinney has been removed from his job as education secretary and put in charge of Scotland’s covid recovery. He will remain as Deputy First Minister and was moved as Nicola Sturgeon begins a long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle.

Nicola Sturgeon admitted there was a level of concern about the number of new cases linked to the Indian variant which has spread across parts of Europe. The Scottish Government's National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch said cases in Scotland's biggest city are higher than they would like and urged people to follow the rules to stop the further spread of the variant that has killed thousands in India.

sea shanty hitmaker Nathan Evans performed his first live rendition of his chart-topping shanty on board a boat on the Thames. Former postie turned Tik Toker and music star Nathan rose to fame with his cover of Wellerman and was signed to Polydor before soaring to number one and achieving global success.

lockdown restrictions on social distancing to ease for the first time in months. During Tuesday's coronavirus briefing, Nicola Sturgeon admitted she felt 'emotional' as she announced that people could now hug each other from Monday, May 17.

First Minister said that case numbers in North East region taking in Forres, Elgin, Lossiemouth and Buckie, are more than four times higher than in the rest of the country which is due to move to Level 2 on Monday.Sturgeon said :“It’s against that backdrop that, unless the situation was to materially improve over the next few days, it would simply not be safe or sensible to ease restrictions there from Monday.”Read the full story.The “huge success” of the vaccination programme along with

First Minister will likely confirm the country can move to level two as of next Monday when she updates Scots at a media briefing later today. Speculation mounted last night that the Scottish Government will introduce a traffic light system by the end of the month which provide a list of foreign countries Scots can travel to without the need for quarantine.

Students and staff at Scots higher education facilities are now able to access rapid coronavirus testing through their local college.More than 100,000 lateral flow testing kits have been distributed to colleges across Scotland to help detect cases in people with no symptoms.Authorities are urging people to take part in voluntary testing twice a week using the at-home kits.A limited number of students are currently allowed on to college campuses at any one time in line with current public health

cinemas later this month as lockdown restrictions are set to ease further across the country.

coronavirus deaths were recorded overnight in Scotland with 85 new positive cases. The Scottish Government announced the latest figures on Wednesday, May 5, as efforts to control the virus spreading continue.

live TV debate between Scotland’s five main party leaders. Policy on covid recovery, foreign travel and the creation of a National Care Service was hammered out in a lively discussion.

NHS worker Lybi Halliday has been found following a frantic police search. The 21-year-old, from Hamilton, had vanished after a night out in Glasgow city centre on Friday, April 30 at around 11.30pm.

holidays "within limits" this summer according to a leading expert, while ministers said the travel green list will be "coming soon". Peter Openshaw - Professor of Experimental Medicine at Imperial College London - said it was vital people do not drop their guard because there are likely to be further outbreaks of coronavirus.

first ‘unlocked’ weekend in months. Crowds of Scots are predicted to be out and about enjoying the good weather that is forecast across most of the country.

covid  "rip" than impose a second national lockdown, sources have claims. It's the latest allegations levelled at the  Prime Minister  who is facing growing criticism over his handling of the pandemic.

shoppers have formed huge queues to get back into their favourite high street store as shops reopened in Scotland today. Non-essential shops have been allowed to welcome customers for the first time in almost five months on Monday as lockdown restrictions ease.

coronavirus infections continues to fall. The country can finally take its first real steps out of lockdown since Boxing Day.

Scottish Government has published a series of rules and guidance that Scots should adhere to when visiting the pub during the coronavirus pandemic. From Monday, Scots will be able to enjoy a pint at their local beer garden as part of a series of changes being made to the lockdown.

14,161 people who responded said making sure building back from the pandemic should be high on the agenda of politicians. It comes as Scotland is set to enter level 3 of restrictions from Monday, April 26 with pubs and restaurants reopening.Nicola Sturgeon announced the latest round of coronavirus relaxations during a briefing on Tuesday. Follow along below to be kept updated. Scotland's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is seen as the most important issue for online readers of the Daily

new freedoms next week after Nicola Sturgeon confirmed lockdown will ease further as covid cases continue to fall. The First Minister announced the country will move to Level Three lockdown next Monday, leading to a raft of changes.