Coronavirus Scotland update LIVE as Brazilian tanker stranded in quarantine on Firth of Clyde

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.

Egyptian Tortoise in Scotland.Fraser Gilchrist has been taking part in a captive breeding programme aimed at saving the miniature tortoises from extinction.There are estimated to be 7500 of the endangered species living in the wild, confined to a small coastal strip in Libya.Egyptian Tortoises are threatened by pollution, habitat destruction and poaching – and illegally collected animals can still be found in Egyptian and Libyan markets.Did you know you can keep up to date with the latest news

restrictions continue to ease across Scotland with pupils return to full-time education inside school buildings now in full swing. Secondary pupils in areas where the Easter holidays have ended have all now returned to their place of education - with more expected to get back into the classroom throughout the coming days.

coronavirus news overnight is that under-30s are to be offered an alternative covid jab to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine due to the evidence linking it to rare blood clots, the UK’s vaccine advisory body said. People aged 18 to 29 will be offered the Pfizer, Moderna or another jab where available.

Renfrew. Tam Love is our worthy £100 winner this week for his cracking picture of light trails in front of Renfrew Town Hall.

lockdown restrictions continue to ease across Scotland and businesses including hairdressers and some non-essential shops open for the first time in months, police have warned the public to continue to follow the rules and stay safe. The warning comes after disgraceful scenes in Edinburgh as thousands descended on the Meadows area of the city to enjoy the warm Easter weather.

Scotland has been lifted with residents being told to ‘stay local’ instead. From today, April 2, Scots are now allowed to travel within their local authority area for non-essential purposes.

country. The First Minister took to social media to urge people to be wary of the spread of the deadly virus that has killed more than 9,000 people in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon was joined by Anas Sarwar from Labour, Douglas Ross from the Scottish Conservatives, Willie Rennie from the Lib Dems and Lorna Slater of the Scottish Greens to be quizzed on the BBC.

SNP. While the election campaign would usually see politicians travel the country speaking to voters, the First Minister said the coronavirus pandemic meant she would instead be "staying home".

coronavirus  has called for a public inquiry into the Government's handling of the pandemic. Alison Saunders said 'the whole system failed' following the death of 58-year-old James Yates, who was only mildly asthmatic, at the hands of the  killer bug.

NHS workers have been offered a 'substantial' pay rise after an 'exceptionally challenging year'.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced 'our NHS staff deserve more than applause and 1% is not enough' after putting a 4% raise on the table.If accepted by staff, would be the most generous National Health Service pay uplift anywhere in the UK.The pay rise will benefit 154,000 NHS employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals, as well as domestic, healthcare support staff,

Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from fellow MSPs at First Minister's Questions this afternoon.It is expected to begin around 12.30 in the Scottish Parliament, and beforehand the First Minister will give the latest update on the current coronavirus statistics.It comes as the Western Isles will today move to level three of lockdown restrictions from 6pm.Announcing the change yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said the Outer Hebrides would return to the level that currently applies to Orkney and

We will keep you updated on all the latest news on our blog below. Nicola Sturgeon has said she "cannot guarantee" a third wave currently hitting mainland Europe will head to Scotland.Yesterday the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it could "wash up on our shores".The First Minister said it was "not inevitable" the third wave would hit.The Western Isles will move from level four restrictions to level three from 6pm on Wednesday, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.The First Minister said the Outer

We will keep you updated on all the latest news on our blog below. Student nurse Keren Nairns lost both her grandparents to Covid last year.Her gran Agnes Addison, from Bannockburn in Stirlingshire, died from the virus but the family believe her grandad Davy Wilson’s death is also partly attributable to Covid.Agnes, 69, died on March 29 last year while Davy, 61, passed away on October 7, while awaiting a hospital referral for an unrelated matter.Read the full story here.First Minister Nicola

iOS and Android.Nationally, there are currently 353 people in hospital with 33 in ICU.North Ayrshire currently has a seven-day case rate per 100,000 population of 100.9 which is the highest in the region.South Ayrshire's current case rate is 84.4 per cent with East Ayrshire's faring best at 77.9.Latest vaccination data shows 2,182,400 people have received a first dose in Scotland and 225,096 have received their second dose.Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily

Covid-19 could hit Scotland despite the vaccine rollout, one scientist warns. Professor Andrew Hayward said a fourth wave across all of the UK is 'still likely' as some people are still not vaccinated.