Coronavirus briefing: Scotland records first weekly drop in Covid-19 deaths

May 6, 2020

Good evening folks,

We hope you are keeping well and still adhering to the lockdown measures. The gorgeous weather is tempting but we have to follow the guidelines if we are to eventually get back to anything resembling day-to-day normality.

The First Minister has already warned that lifting restrictions too early could result in a spike in deaths and the NHS being overwhelmed within a matter of weeks.

Take care and stay safe,

Your Scotsman team

Here are the latest headlines...

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that a fall in the rate of deaths linked to coronavirus in Scotland last week gives "some hope"
But progress is considered 'still too fragile to immediately ease restrictions in any meaningful way'
New data shows there were 523 deaths between 27 April and 3 May, a fall of 135 on the previous week
Scotland's death toll now stands at 2,795
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to reach 200,000 tests for coronavirus per day by the end of May
Heathrow Airport is trialling large-scale temperature checks at departure gates
Youth employment could rise by more than 600,000 as a result of the virus according to the Resolution Foundation

A message from the editorial director

While I have your attention, I have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates, Editorial Director


	Scotland has just recorded its first weekly drop in coronavirus deaths

	The weekly coronavirus death toll in Scotland has fallen for the first time, figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show.

Care home nurse dies with COVID-19 shortly after granddaughter’s birth in Carnoustie, Angus

Karen Hutton died at her home in the Carnoustie, Angus

FMQs: Lockdown easing should be at ‘pace of area furthest behind’

Nicola Sturgeon has said that any easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions should be at the pace of the area furthest behind the curve.

Finnish trial of universal basic income should encourage similar system in UK

A successful trial of universal basic income in Finland should encourage the UK and Scottish governments to introduce a similar system when the Covid-19 furlough scheme is wound down, it was claimed today.

'Lockdown referendum' and addressing the 'arrogance of youth' among public's bizarre ideas on how to lift Scotland's coronavirus lockdown

Scots have been responding to the Scottish Government’s call for ideas on how lockdown restrictions could be lifted.

Watch the moment Nicola Sturgeon chokes back emotions over care home deaths

Nicola Sturgeon appeared to fight back emotions in Holyrood today as she faced questions over the spread of Coronavirus in Scotland's care homes.



	View more Coronavirus news