Parents will get two weeks notice before schools return in Scotland, says John Swinney

coronavirus in Scotland in the last 24 hours. John Swinney announced the latest figures and confirmed new 895 positive tests were also recorded.

whole of the UK and the Republic, which already operate a common travel area. Leitch gave his view to MSP scrutinising the government’s covid response and proposals to monitor travellers arriving in the country.

First Minister met with her Scottish Government Cabinet this morning where it was agreed that children in primaries one, two and three should provisionally return to class from the week beginning Monday, February 22. Pre-school nurseries would also reopen at the same time as part of a gradual reopening of the wider schools system.

Nicola Sturgeon is updating MSPs today on changes decided by the Scottish Government on the future of lockdown restrictions. Leitch, the national clinical director, said his recommendation is younger children could return.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, will today say that the First Minister is willing to risk Scotland’s economic recovery by ramping up the SNP’s push for another referendum before Christmas The Tory leader will use a speech on Monday to respond to renewed SNP demands for a second re-run vote and the threat to legislate for a referendum without the Section 30 powers from the UK government.Ross hit out at the so-called wildcat referendum plan contained in Constitutional Secretary

Unison outlined concerns about staff safety and “democratic legitimacy” due to the pandemic.

lockdown despite First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticising it as “not essential”. Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, said: “The Prime Minister has a responsibility and a role to make sure the vaccine roll-out is proceeding appropriately, to thank those on the front line, NHS professionals and those in the British Army who are making sure things work well.”“It’s absolutely right, the Prime Minister should be there talking to those who are involved in that effort.

coronavirus vaccine, providing testing and giving financial support throughout the pandemic. The Prime Minister 's visit has been deemed "not essential" by Nicola Sturgeon who emphasised that cross-border travelling was still discouraged.

Boris Johnson’s Government would announce today, but insisted her Government is prepared to go further.She said the UK plan was "minimal", adding that it was the "least" that can be done.A hotel quarantine system aimed at arrivals from high-risk countries is expected to be announced soon by the home secretary, Priti Patel.Johnson reportedly rejected calls for a blanket policy and is instead believed to support a targeted system for a limited number of countries such as South Africa and

Lockdown in Scotland has been extended until at least the middle of February in an effort to halt the spread of the new virulent strain of coronavirus. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs on Tuesday that transmission of the virus appeared to be slowing down but was still too high to ease current restrictions.

Covid-19. The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned the situation is "extremely serious" and action must be taken to halt the rapidly spreading new strain.

Scottish Government has expressed concerns over the number of new coronavirus cases in the country in recent days. Nicola Sturgeon said covid-19 hospital admission figures have exceeded those seen during the first wave of the pandemic in spring last year.

Janey Godley has done a satirical turn on Donald Trump's involvement in last week's deadly Capitol riot. The Scots comedian is as well known for her thoughts on the soon to be ousted US President as she is for her voiceovers of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's daily coronavirus briefings.

Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will be widely available across the country on Monday.A team of more than 3000 trained vaccinators are on standby to deliver doses to those aged over 80, who will be contacted by their health boards.The latest rollout follows an announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who revealed that more than 110,000 Scots have already received the Pfizer jag.Scotland has an allocation of 533,640 doses of the Oxford vaccine for the month of January, which requires two jabs,

Nicola Sturgeon "acted in an honourable way" after former colleague Alex Salmond reportedly claimed she breached the ministerial code by misleading the Scottish Parliament. Former first minister Mr Salmond's submissions to an inquiry into sexual assault claims against him have been obtained by national newspapers, in which he claims Ms Sturgeon's evidence over when she knew about the allegations was "simply untrue".

teaching will not resume for January or February. Only small numbers of students will be allowed back including those who stayed on campus over the winter break and where attendance is "critical" and cannot be postponed or done remotely.

care home residents.Nicola Sturgeon said a total of 113,459 people, including medics, got their first dose by January 3.The figures cover the initial Pfizer vaccine so numbers are expected to rise more quickly now a second vaccine is available.Sturgeon gave the update at the regular coronavirus briefing from Edinburgh.She said: "We are now well over half way through vaccinating care home residents with their first dose of the vaccine."That is extremely important, as you have just heard, more