Coronavirus Scotland LIVE as pubs, shops and restaurants reopen, the recovery continues

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.

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

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.

coronavirus in Scotland with no new deaths recorded overnight. The Scottish Government released the latest figures this afternoon - bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 226,644.

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.

coronavirus policies.In a statement, NTIA Scotland said: “Scottish Government support has been wholly inadequate to compensate for operating losses and a majority of businesses have now incurred unsustainable debt as a result.”Noting that 39,000 jobs are at risk, it argued that the costs of rent, staff furlough, insurance and other expenses are now far exceeding the income gained from revenue and government grants.They said the average small business in the sector has now exceeded £150,000 in

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.

dramatic Prime Minister’s Questions is likely to dominate today’s agenda. Boris Johnson was framed as a liar in the Commons for failing to admit to alleged remarks about allowing to let “bodies pile high” instead of seeing another covid lockdown.

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.

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.

per The Scotsman: “From 17 May some outdoor and indoor events will be able to take place (all conditional on supportive data).“In addition, there will be further work to develop a process and guidance for events with proposed numbers above the standard limits.“Specific restrictions on capacities are to be discussed and agreed in the coming weeks in consultation with the events industry.” It comes after the Edinburgh Fringe confirmed plans to provisionally return this summer, after coronavirus

Nicola Sturgeon is set to give a live briefing later today to confirm the most important stage in the easing of lockdown restrictions. The First Minister will announce a list of changes due to begin next Monday 26 April.

finally lifted today after more than four months, while groups of up to six people from six different households can also now legally meet outdoors. Until now, most Scots have been unable to invite people into their own homes for non-essential purposes since September and thousands of hospitality businesses remain shut.

Use an Apple phone or tablet? Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in LanarkshireFrom Friday people will be allowed to meet in groups of up to six adults from six households outdoors, and will be allowed to travel across Scotland, providing they do not stay away from home overnight.Ms Sturgeon also said significant progress was being made in the fight against coronavirus, but that caution was still required.She said: "“The data allows us to make a change to this earlier."So, from Friday