Nicola Sturgeon announces shielding will be paused across Scotland next week

coronavirus in Scotland, but the number of new cases has spiked again to 52. A total of 19,079 people have been handed positive COVID-19 test results across the country.

pupils across Scotland caught up in an exams fiasco which penalised pupils in poorer communities.The First Minister made the significant apology days after pupils protested and calls were made for Education Secretary John Swinney to resign.At her regular briefing, Sturgeon said: "I do acknowledge that we did not get this right and I am sorry for that."The U-turn comes after defending a system brought in to grade pupils who were unable to sit normal exams because of the Covid-19 health

Nicola Sturgeon has said it is "bonkers" for people to question her commitment to Scottish independence as she confirmed her intention to stand in next year's Holyrood election. The First Minister also stated she would serve another full term if elected in the 2021 vote for the Scottish Parliament.

Covid cases has broken out in the Greater Glasgow area. The First Minister said there were 17 confirmed cases in Scotland's largest health board yesterday - which includes the city as well as the neighbouring council areas of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

coronavirus deaths registered in Scotland but 67 new positive cases have been confirmed. The total number of positive cases is now 18, 847 according to the latest Scottish Government released figures.

coronavirus deaths registered in Scotland for a 20th day but 64 new positive cases have been confirmed. The total number of positive cases is now 18,781 according to the latest Scottish Government released figures.

Nicola Sturgeon has said all pupils who are unhappy with their exam results will be able to appeal them for free as the Scottish Government faced mounting criticism over how grades were awarded. For the first time in more than 130 years, Scottish youngsters did not sit down for exams in May as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

bars and restaurants could face a “further shutdown” if Scots do not abide by strict public safety rules.The First Minister said pictures of a large queue outside an Aberdeen bar had made her want to cry.A key part of the Government’s policy of coming out of lockdown involved the reopening of pubs and restaurants.Get all the top Scottish politics news sent straight to your Inbox by signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover Holyrood, Westminster and local councils, with a current focus on

pub too often after alarm at a rise in coronavirus cases.Around half of the latest positive cases of Covid-19 were among people in their 20s and 30s.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the levels are a reason for caution, while other parts of the world have also seen infection rates among young people surge.At a coronavirus briefing on Friday, Sturgeon said "nobody can safely get Covid", despite the disease causing more fatalities among older people.Urging people to "stick rigidly" to the latest

Port Glasgow, and an Amazon warehouse in Gourock, Inverclyde.Some of the cases visited the following locations when they may have been infectious to others:- The Botany on Maryhill Road in Glasgow- The Queen of the Loch by Marston's Inn, Balloch- Lomond Woods Holiday Park, Alexandria- Sweeney’s Cruises, BallochHealth and local environmental health staff are working closely with the all the businesses to trace any close contacts of the cases.Appropriate advice is being given to the individuals

coronavirus cases.The warning against non-essential travel also applies to anyone in affected areas, including Manchester, who had plans to visit Scotland.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the restrictions in the most significant step back to lockdown since the height of the pandemic in the UK.Sturgeon said: "I'm grateful to the Prime Minister for the update on the recent developments in the north west of England and all four nations agreed on the importance of sharing localised

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that pupils will be in the classroom full-time when schools return next month.Pupils will begin to return from August 11 and all young people will be back in full-time education by August 18.In a statement to Holyrood this afternoon the First Minister did say that some local authorities may opt for phased return but all pupils will have returned to school by August 18.A Scottish Government report reads: "The expectation is that all schools will reopen by August 11,

Get the stories that interest you straight to your inbox every day with our personalised newsletterNicola Sturgeon has confirmed Scottish schools will reopen from August 11.The First Minister said she expected all pupils to be back in full time education from August 18 at the latest.In a statement to Holyrood this lunchtime, Ms Sturgeon confirmed classrooms would re-open in full rather than adopting a "blended" learning approach, which had once been proposed.Every school will have to carry out a

schooling in Scotland today as she delivers the latest review of lockdown.Parents, pupils and teachers have been waiting for a final decision for weeks after earlier plans for “blended” part-time learning were suddenly dropped.The move to more normal hours comes as concerns continue to grow over clusters of Covid-19, including a potential spread in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region.Worrying levels of infection are being detected across continental Europe too, leading to calls for caution in

coronavirus lockdown today with beauty salons and tattoo parlours opening for the first time since late March. Enhanced safety measures will be put in place to prevent any spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus.

Covid-19 in recent days could be linked to the outbreak at a call centre in North Lanarkshire.

shielding ” policy by the end of the month. The First Minister also announced a further lifting of restrictions on a category of people who have been subject to the greatest coronavirus restrictions.

coronavirus cases in Scotland. There was one new Covid-19 death in the last 24 hours - meaning the hospital death toll has risen to 2,491.

Nicola Sturgeon has declared it was a good day for Scotland as the country's hospitality sector reopened and the number of deaths from Covid-19 continued to fall. But the SNP leader once again urged Scots to "keep the heid" as she admitted to being nervous as the single biggest easing of lockdown restrictions in four months took place.

Get the stories that interest you straight to your inbox every day with our personalised newsletterScotland has recorded no new deaths from coronavirus for the seventh day in a row, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.The latest figures were revealed as the country took a key step out of lockdown today, with pubs and restaurants opening indoors for the first time.Attractions such as cinemas and museums have also been reopening, while long queues have been waiting at the country's barber