Covid Scotland LIVE as Nicola Sturgeon blames UK Government for 'likely' lockdown easing delay

Scottish Labour has demanded a return to parliament for MSPs as he warns Covid cases in Scotland are getting "out of control". Anas Sarwar has called for the gap between first and second vaccinations to be halved to four weeks to deal with the “out of control” spread of coronavirus.

coronavirus deaths in Scotland overnight and a further 3,823 positive cases. The First Minister announced the latest figures this aftrnoon as the virus continues to spread across the country.

First Minister will be joined by clinical director Jason Leitch for the televised update at 12.15pm.

coronavirus related news is likely to be dominated by the continued fallout from the resignation of Matt Hancock. We have reported claims this morning that he has been referred to police over an alleged breach of coronavirus restrictions by a furious MP.

sit traditional exams next spring or if an alternative would be in place. SNP ministers this week pledged to scrap the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) following the publication of a long-awaited international report which looked at the state of the curriculum north of the Border.

pandemic news is likely to be dominated by talks between Nicola Sturgeon and Andy Burnham to discuss the ban on all non-essential travel from Scotland to Manchester and Salford. At a press conference on Tuesday the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester told reporters he was seeking a “political route” out of the dispute.

First Minister said wedding suppliers will no longer count towards the cap on numbers and live entertainment at receptions will be allowed.

Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox.Scots will not be encouraged to rush back to their offices after covid restrictions are lifted on 9 August, Nicola Sturgeon has said.The First Minister came down on the side of continuing the practice of working from home she announced that Scotland plans to move out of covid restrictions.Many businesses have called for a return of commuters to their place of work to help city centre and town economies

Nicola Sturgeon is set to issue an update on ‘Freedom Day’ and the latest coronavirus situation in the Scottish Parliament later today.

First Minister is expected to tell MSPs in the Holyrood chamber that there will be a three-week delay in the lifting of lockdown in Scotland due to the Delta variant, which originated in India.

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Burnham has charged Sturgeon with treating the north of England with the same contempt she claims Boris Johnson treats Scotland by announcing a travel ban to the Manchester area without notifying him. The First Minister announced a travel ban for Scots to Manchester and Salford on Friday but the Labour mayor was infuriated that she did so without notifying him.

First Minister took to social media to thank the staff at the covid hospital in the SSE Hydro for helping with the vaccination programme. In her message Sturgeon also urged her fellow Scots to make sure they get their second dose of the jab when invited for an appointment.

covid news is likely to be dominated by the intensifying row over the Manchester travel ban that comes into force from today. Andy Burnham has blasted Nicola Sturgeon over her decision to axe travel between Scotland and Manchester.

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travel will not be allowed from Scotland to either Manchester or Salford.

for the virus within the previous 28 days – is 7, 690. There are currently 128 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus with 12 being treated in intensive care.The total number of positive cases since the pandemic hit stands at 251,911.To date 3, 591, 638 people have received their first vaccination with 2, 535, 803 having a second jab.

Follow our Live blog below for all the latest updates .

Follow all the latest updates on our blog below. A delay to lockdown easing may also help break the link between infections and hospital admissions, a public health professor suggested.Professor Linda Bauld, from the University of Edinburgh, told LBC that the variant first identified in India now accounted for the majority of UK cases, but the death rate among people with this infection was low."You can see amongst people who were infected with this variant, the mortality rate was 0.7%, just 12

First Minister will address MSPs at Holyrood as cases continue to rise across parts of the country. It comes as Scotland marks six months since the Covid-19 vaccination programme was rolled out.