Nicola Sturgeon coronavirus update LIVE as SNP health chief gives hope on care home visits

Nicola Sturgeon on March 2, the day before she appeared before the inquiry investigating the handling of harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond.On BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Andrea Bradley, the assistant secretary of the EIS teaching union, said the Scottish Government was looking for a "good news story that week".However, Ms Sturgeon had previously announced the earliest date for some pupils to return to school would be March 15.On Monday, Education Secretary John

school on February 22.Senior secondary school pupils required to attend for practical work for qualifications were able to return from the same date.Now, all high school students will be able head back to the classroom part-time, as part of a blended learning model meaning they will continue to do some learning at home until after the Easter break.Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the plans in a speech to MSPs on March 2 and has repeatedly stressed that having pupils return to school is her lockdown

school on February 22.Senior secondary school pupils required to attend for practical work for qualifications were able to return from the same date.Now, all high school students will be able head back to the classroom part-time, as part of a blended learning model meaning they will continue to do some learning at home until after the Easter break.Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the plans in a speech to MSPs on March 2 and has repeatedly stressed that having pupils return to school is her lockdown

Dunblane massacre will be 'forever in our hearts' as Scotland remembers the tragedy 25 years on.The First Minister took to twitter to call the day 'one of the darkest and most heartbreaking in Scotland’s history'.On March 13, 1996, crazed gunman Thomas Hamilton murdered 16 primary school children and their teacher in Dunblane, sending shockwaves of grief around the world.Hamilton then took his own life.The murder spree remains Britain's deadliest mass shootings and lead to large-scale reforms on

Scottish Parliament  the continued fall in coronavirus cases is giving grounds for "cautious optimism". The  First Minster  told MSPs that primary children will return to school next week as planned along with more senior secondary pupils.

Scottish Government’s  £500 bonus to NHS workers like porters, catering staff and cleaners. The government announced in December that all  health  and social care staff would receive the bonus as a thank-you for their hard work during the pandemic.

First Minister is taking questions from MSPs on the coronavirus committee at Holyrood.Nicola Sturgeon is being quizzed on her handling of the pandemic and how Scotland will exit lockdown in the next couple of weeks and months.MSPs will ask Nicola Sturgeon, and Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, a number of questions on the pandemic.The meeting will take place virtually and can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.

outdoor meetings could be announced by Nicola Sturgeon in her latest coronavirus update this afternoon.The First Minister is due to give a statement to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament around 2.20pm today.She has already indicated a change in the rules on outdoor meetings - which at the moment only allow for two people from two different households to get together - could be coming.On Friday, Sturgeon indicated "good progress" with the vaccination programme and the falling number of infections

coronavirus outbreak has been branded “weak” by a watchdog for its infection control care.West Park Care Home in Glenrothes was put on lockdown after being hit by dozens of Covid-19 cases earlier this year.Now the Care Inspectorate has criticised areas of cleanliness at the 38-bed facility after an unannounced inspection.In a report published yesterday, the watchdog said there had been “significant concerns” over contaminated mattresses and toilets, saying “people’s safety and welfare were

eased this week as a result of the drop in cases.Yesterday, no new coronavirus deaths were announced.Although, figures tend to be lower at weekends, coronavirus cases have continued to drop in recent weeks, with the test positivity rate having now been below 5% for 13 days in a row.The 5% figure is used by the World Health Organisation to determine if the pandemic is under control.On Friday Sturgeon said: "I'm hopeful that next week we might be able to make some relatively minor, but I think

First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament it was revealed that 500 people had tested positive for the deadly virus in the same time period.There are currently 726 people in hospital while there are 69 patients in intensive care units across the country.Throughout FMQs Sturgeon was quizzed about her appearance at the Alex Salmond harassment committee yesterday.She was also asked about the Budget and how it will hit Scotland.As a result, Scotland is due £1.2 billion in Barnett

Ayrshire agency nurse.Claire Smith, from Ayr, has written to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to ask if the government would reconsider their stance on the £500 Covid-19 bonus not being extended to agency staff.The 38-year-old staff nurse says when the NHS became overwhelmed by coronavrius cases, it was agency staff who ‘stepped up to help’.The mum-of-two was sent oversees to British territory Gibraltar at the start of the pandemic last year, by her then employers, Newcross, to support NHS

Salmond by two women when he was First Minister.Salmond took the government to court and it was agreed the internal probe, which destroyed his friendship with Nicola Sturgeon, had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.The fiasco cost over £600,000 of public money.Salmond gave evidence last week and accused his successor of misleading parliament over aspects of the scandal..Giving her own evidence, she said “two women were failed and taxpayers’ money was lost, I deeply regret that.”The First

First Minister  said there was "good evidence" the national vaccination programme was already reducing the number of deaths from the virus across the country. And the SNP leader revealed the average number of covid cases being reported each day in Scotland had dropped to 657 - the lowest rate since October.

First Minister said there was "good evidence" the national vaccination programme was already reducing the number of deaths from the virus across the country.And the SNP leader revealed the average number of covid cases being reported each day in Scotland had dropped to 657 - the lowest rate since October.It means all primary school pupils will be able to return to class as of March 15 - with high schools reopening full-time after the Easter break.Sturgeon added that a further review of easing

iOS and Android.NHS Ayrshire & Arran hospital numbers reduced dramatically overnight by eight with 94 now in health board venues with the virus. This is the first time they've fallen below 100 since December 10ICU numbers now stand at five for the fourth consecutive day.And 24 new cases were detected in Ayrshire.

results returned before the visit commences. Dorothy, who will be visiting her mum on Thursday said she is hopeful that it is just the first step in securing more treasured time with her mum.

coronavirus lockdown in Scotland yesterday.The First Minister said she hoped to lift the 'Stay at Home' message on April 5 as cases and deaths across the country continue to fall.It is hoped that the reopening of the economy will start around April 26 with the return to the levels system.Sturgeon said more detail will be set out in March as the pressure on the NHS eases.It comes after it was announced that 56 people had died from coronavirus in the last 24-hour period.In that same time 655 new

coronavirus  and another 11 are believed to be infected after an outbreak on a ward. But the  Scottish Government’s  rules say elderly patients should not be vaccinated against the virus until they are about to be discharged.

Jason Leitch painted a picture of a future when Scots would be able to fly to parts of the world that had the virus under control.A system of travel corridors allowing people to fly to certain countries used to be in operation, but the policy was scrapped as a way of getting to grips with infection levels.READ MORE: Scots may be able to travel abroad to ‘vaccinated’ countries says Jason LeitchBilly Dodds and Steven Thompson were left baffled by Rangers’ partygoing stars as the Ibrox five were