Readers’ Letters: Freeman behind much virus pain
Writing about the Covid-19 crisis, regular correspondent Andrew Lamb states that “while there have been mistakes, that’s the problem of being part of the UK”.
First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon praises Kirsty Blackman for ‘bravely’ sharing mental health pressures
Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman has been hailed by the First Minister for "bravely" opening up about the pressures on her mental health during lockdown.
Local coronavirus restrictions under consideration in future to prevent ‘blanket lockdowns’
The First Minister has revealed the country could move to more localised coronavirus restrictions to avoid "longer, more general lockdowns" across Scotland.
First Minister urges people to wear face covering in public
Nicola Sturgeon has renewed her plea for people to wear face coverings in public and said she had “an intense sense of anxiety” of people becoming complacent as lockdown eases.
Penguin parade on hold as Edinburgh Zoo prepares to reopen
Edinburgh Zoo has said keeper talks and its famous penguin parade will be postponed as it puts safety measures in place ahead of reopening on Monday.
Pressure mounts over two-metre distancing as beer gardens get the go-ahead for July 6
The tourism sector has welcomed Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that beer gardens will be able to open on July 6 - but warns that unless the two-metre distancing rule is reduced, businesses will be forced to close.
Former first minister welcomes change in schools policy
Lord McConnell has welcomed the announcement of plans to bring pupils back to school full-time in August.
Scotland ‘not going to be very far behind’ UK in publishing two-metre rule advice
The Scottish Government will "pay attention" to advice published tomorrow by the UK Government on the two-metre social distancing rule, the First Minister has said.
Scottish economy ‘will need £6bn boost after coronavirus crisis’
At least £6 billion in stimulus money will be needed for the Scottish economy to recover from Covid-19, according to a Government adviser.
Care home owner calls for ‘rigorously honest’ coronavirus response inquiry
One of Scotland’s biggest care home owners has urged the Scottish Government to be “rigorously honest”, calling for an inquiry into the coronavirus response in the sector.
First Minister urges ‘caution’ out of lockdown but critics argue she has failed to understand ‘depth of economic and education crisis’
The First Minister has urged Scotland to exercise "care and caution" as it continues into phase two but faces accusations that she has failed to understand the depth of the "economic and education crisis" facing the country.
Retailers welcome ‘significant milestone’ as some shops told they can reopen
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has welcomed the announcement from the First Minister that some shops will be able to reopen this month.
Face coverings to be mandatory on public transport in Scotland from Monday
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced face coverings will be mandatory on public transport from Monday.
True scale of north-east coronavirus deaths revealed
New figures have revealed the city's most deprived area is among the top 20 in Scotland for highest Covid-19 death rates.
Cross-party MSPs urge Sturgeon to allow reopening of Edinburgh Zoo
A cross-party group of Edinburgh politicians have written to the First Minister calling on her to support the safe reopening of Edinburgh Zoo.
Coronavirus: Woodside records highest death rate from Covid-19 across north-east
New figures have revealed Woodside in Aberdeen has the highest death rate across the north and north-east from Covid-19 and falls within the top 20 highest death rates in Scotland.
Sturgeon will ‘move Heaven and Earth’ to get schools back to normal
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to get schools back up and running as normally as she can by the time they are due to return in August.
More than 20,000 jobs at risk ‘if pubs open with two-metre social distancing’
More than 20,000 jobs in the hospitality industry will be at risk if pubs in Scotland open with the existing social distancing measures, according to a new survey.
More than 700 people traced after coming into contact with confirmed Covid-19 cases
More than 700 people have been traced across Scotland after coming into contact with an individual who tested positive for Covid-19, with fewer than two people traced on average for each confirmed case so far.
Coronavirus tests for care home staff must be delivered, Carlaw tells Sturgeon
Ministers need to “get a grip” of testing care home staff for coronavirus, according to the Scottish Tory leader.
Nicola Sturgeon reacts to Crieff Hydro jobs threat saying her ‘heart breaks’ for businesses affected by Covid pandemic
Nicola Sturgeon said her “heart breaks” for businesses like the Crieff Hydro hotel chain as she vowed to reopen the tourism sector as soon as it was safe to do so.
My heart breaks for businesses hit by virus over past few months – Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon has said her “heart breaks” thinking about businesses that have suffered a negative impact from lockdown measures.
People isolating due to health conditions urged to stay shielded until July 31
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has asked people shielding due to health conditions to continue to do so until the end of next month.
Cancel 2021 exams to avoid widening of attainment gap, says academic
Next year’s exam diet should be cancelled, a researcher has said, as he warned of a widening of the attainment gap.
Scottish Parliament votes to cancel summer recess
Holyrood has voted to cancel its summer recess to continue scrutinising the Scottish Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Plaid Cymru calls for inquiry into structural racism in Wales
The Welsh Government is to consider setting up an inquiry into structural racism in Wales.
Sturgeon accused of ‘consistent disconnect’ between promises and delivery
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has said there has been a “consistent disconnect” between promises from the Scottish Government and what is being delivered.
First Minister attempts to shift focus away from Dominic Cummings
Scotland’s First Minister has said she does not want to talk about Dominic Cummings and instead wants to focus on tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
Care home review needed, Freeman says, as police probe care resident deaths
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said a review should be held into Scotland’s care home sector, as Police Scotland confirmed it is investigating the deaths of three care home residents.
Labour: Freeman must come clean over discharging untested patients to care homes
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has called for Jeane Freeman to “come clean” over the scale of discharging untested hospital patients into care homes.