Two new deaths following a positive test for coronavirus have been reported in Scotland for the first time since 16 July.
It brings the total number of deaths in Scotland under this measure to 2,494.
Meanwhile, the National Records of Scotland (NRS) has also reported six deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate last week.
The deaths were registered between 17 and 23 August, bringing the total to 4,222 by this measure.
Four of the deaths were in a care home and two were in a hospital, according to the NRS.
Giving her daily update on coronavirus, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs the two deaths on the daily figures were a reminder that coronavirus was still a "threat" in Scotland.
"I think all of us have become used to hearing news of no deaths under these daily figures," Ms Sturgeon said.
"These two new deaths today are of course devastating for those who will be grieving the loss. But they should also be a reminder for all of us that the threat of Covid hasn't yet gone away".
The two deaths are of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 within the past 28 days.
Scotland's Covid-19 deaths following positive test
The number of daily deaths following a positive test peaked at 84 on 15 April, with 83 deaths also reported on 29 April and 6 May.
But the number has been mainly declining since early May and the figure has not increased at all for six weeks.
The NRS death figures are higher because they count all death certificates that mention Covid-19, even if the person has not been tested for the virus.
They include cases where the person has tested positive for the virus, and where it is suspected but not confirmed.
Ms Sturgeon also reported that there had been 67 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Scotland in the last 24 hours.
Six more people are in hospital, bringing the total to 249, and two people are in intensive care.
Scotland spent £15.1bn more on public services than it raised in taxes last year, according to Scottish government statistics.
This public spending deficit was £2bn higher than the previous year, and represented 8.6% of the country's GDP.
The figures cover the financial year to 5 April 2020, so do not reflect the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The deficit for the UK as a whole rose from 1.9% of its GDP to 2.5% for the same period.
The statistics also estimated that Scotland raised £308 less per person than the UK average in taxation, while public spending was £1,663 per person higher in Scotland.
The figures were contained in the annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) statistics which have become a key battleground in the independence debate in recent years.
They are compiled by Scottish government statisticians free of political interference, and estimate spending that "benefits the people of Scotland" by the Scottish government, UK government, and all other parts of the public sector in Scotland.
It also estimates the total amount of taxation raised in Scotland, including a proportional share of UK government taxes.
PA images
Where is public money being spent in Scotland?Source: Gers
What does the report say?
The report estimated that a total of £81bn was spent by the public sector in Scotland last year - about £2.5bn more than the previous year.
Meanwhile total revenues were put at £65.9bn, which was an increase of 0.7% and the highest on record.
But revenues from the North Sea oil and gas industry dropped by £642m to £724m, which the report said reflected a fall in the oil price towards the end of the year.
North Sea tax receipts brought in about £11bn a decade ago.
The report says that its figures include the "initial impacts" of the coronavirus pandemic - but warns that the impact will be greater next year.
What has the reaction been?
The Scottish government's finance secretary, Kate Forbes, said the pandemic had "fundamentally changed the fiscal landscape".
She added: "We are now witnessing an unprecedented health and economic crisis.
"Countries across the world, including the UK, have increased borrowing to record levels and, as we emerge from the pandemic, high fiscal deficits will inevitably be one of the consequences.
"An independent Scotland would have the power to make different choices, with different economic budgetary results."
'Massive setback'
But the Scottish Conservatives said the figures were a "massive setback for SNP plans for separation" and showed that being part of the UK was "more valuable than ever" to Scotland.
The party's finance spokesman, Murdo Fraser, said Scotland's public spending deficit was now higher than its health budget of £13.8bn.
He said: "The SNP and Nicola Sturgeon herself used to hail Gers figures as all the evidence Scotland needed to separate from the UK.
"Now, nationalists will spend the day denying facts from their own government."
His comments were echoed by the UK government's Scottish secretary, Alasdair Jack, who said the "Union dividend" was worth £1,941 for every person in Scotland.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the figures showed that Scotland's deficit had increased even before the full economic impact of coronavirus were felt.
He added: "With billions draining from the Scottish economy in the event of separation, Scotland would be thrust into years of savage and unrelenting austerity."
The Scottish Greens said the statistics showed that the "old economic system" had failed, and that "independence must come with a determination to build a future for all in a new greener Scotland."
And the Scottish Liberal Democrats said the "eye-watering" figures "really drive home just how economically valuable the partnership across these isles is".
Every part of the UK is out of kilter. Three parts are reckoned to be net contributors: London, south-east England and the east of England.
Scotland is one of the net beneficiaries, but the notional deficit per head is lower than Northern Ireland, Wales and the north of England.
Its tax take per head is close to that of the UK average, which indicates the economy has been performing nearly as strongly as the UK one. Scotland's spending level per head is significantly higher than the UK figure.
So why does this matter so much in Scotland but not elsewhere? Probably because Scots are debating whether to become independent or not.
Next August, Gers will look very different. The UK, Scotland and every other country are facing enormous deficits, from lower tax and higher spending, and the damage from having to tackle coronavirus and recession is likely to be felt for several years to come.
These figures are acknowledged by most people, on both sides of the debate, as the starting point for a discussion about the affordability of public services and welfare benefits if Scotland's budget were to stand alone.
But they only show the starting point if Scotland had become independent last year, and before any changes could be made to tax or spending.
With a deficit of 8.6% of total output - well above a sustainable level - many of those early decisions would be difficult.
Millions of pupils will have to wear masks when they return to school next weekCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Millions of pupils will have to wear masks when they return to school next week
But for now they won't have to wear them inside the classrooms unless individual schools order them too.
However, Tory MPs and heads are in uproar over the plans - saying it will ruin discipline and cause chaos in schools.
Katharine Birbalsingh, founder of Michaela community school in Brent North London, said it would lead to mayhem.
She told Radio 4's Today: "Children in groups behave very differently.
"The idea that these children will be wearing masks perfectly and not bullying each other… we need to consider that when considering if it will make a difference to pupils’ safety."
And she added: "They will be wearing reused dirty masks, they will swap them, ping them, they will lick and spit on each other’s masks for a joke.
"They will wear them incorrectly, they will lose them.
"The girls will be in the loos, checking their masks, making sure they look nice. They will be touching their faces all the more - I would argue they make them less safe."
She tweeted that '[Pupils] will be... bullying each other over choice of mask" too.
Teachers will be unable to see who is making snide comments and being silly, and disorder will become rife in classrooms again.
And that could have a knock-on effect on their education, she argued.
It came as:
Gavin WIlliamson was slammed by the BBC's Dan Walker for trying to run down the time on air so he could avoid a difficult grilling over the u-turn
The Education Secretary stressed he "never" wanted to shut down schools again nationwide
MPs lashed out as the Government u-turned for the second time in just a week
Boris Johnson is due to do a live Q&A online with the public later to reassure fears about kids returning to school in England in the coming days
After months at home most pupils in England will return to school next week.
Schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland have already returned.
The latest screeching u-turn for the Government came just 24 hours after No10 stressed there would be no change in position based on new evidence from the World Health Organisation.
They've said that over 12s should cover up if they can't stay apart from others - as there's evidence older children can spread the virus in similar ways to adults.
But Scotland piled on pressure by saying it would ask kids to wear masks in corridors at secondary schools from next Monday.
Heads broke with Government advice to say they would ask their pupils to wear them too - some of them inside classrooms too.
3
Kids returning to some schools have already been told to wear them - but it#s up to heads
3
Boris Johnson changed the Government's advice on masks in schools last night
Mr Williamson was today slammed by the BBC's Dan Walker for "trying to talk down the time" to avoid tough questions after ANOTHER screeching U-turn on masks.
The under-fire Education Secretary was given a telling off on live TV for talking over Mr Walker three times and ignoring the questions asked about the policy change on masks in schools.
He gave a repetitive monologue instead of answering the question.
As Mr Walker tried to interrupt and stop Mr Williamson repeating the same thing over and over again, the Education Secretary ignored him and continued to talk over him.
He went on: "And of course the week after that more local authorities and schools are welcoming people back and that's really our focus."
But Mr Walker tried again to interrupt, saying: "Ok I understand that."
But Mr Williamson talked over him yet again, saying: "It's a safe comfortable environment for youngsters to enjoy school and actually have all the joys and benefits."
Mr Walker tried to interject, saying: "Mr Williamson, you've made that point a number of times, I'd like to ask you some questions this morning."
But the Education Secretary kept ignoring the attempted interruptions and continued to deliver his answer.
Mr Walker finally said: "Mr Williamson, I'm going to have to ask you not to keep talking about world-class education, you've mentioned that now, I'm going to ask you some questions, and hopefully we will get some answers."
Mr Williamson cut in again, talking over the BBC Breakfast presenter: "You wouldn't expect me to not be enthusiastic about delivering world-class education and wanting to welcome children back into schools."
Mr Walker replied: "I understand that but it feels like you're talking down the time so I don't get to ask the questions."
Later in the program, the BBC Breakfast Host had to again ask Mr Williamson to "keep his answers brief" because they were running out of time for the interview.
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Gavin Williamson slammed by BBC's Dan Walker for 'trying to talk down the time' to avoid tough questions
Two years ago, when acquainting Daily Mail readers with a reticent young Yorkshireman who had risen from football’s backwaters to win a place in the nation’s hearts with his World Cup performances, I wrote the following words: ‘He is possibly one of the most unaffected, humble, grounded blokes ever to pull on a Three Lions jersey.’
It was a summation gleaned from comments of those who knew Harry Maguire long before he began earning £190,000-a-week as the captain of Manchester United: A former teacher, his youth team coach and neighbours who knew him in Sheffield.
They depicted a fellow who remained so down-to-earth that he still paid for his own ticket when watching Sheffield United, the team he has supported since boyhood. Whose no-nonsense mother insisted he did the dishes when he popped round for his tea. Who turned up for his first England training session with his muddy boots in a black bin-bag.
Maguire leaves a court building on the island of Syros on Saturday after two nights in cells
Yes, the footballer insists that he, his family and their friends are the real victims of this modern-day Greek tragedy. And yes, he will appeal against the court’s decision, doubtless availing himself of the most expensive lawyers his £10million-a-year salary can buy.
Yet the fact that he placed himself in a position where his reputation, and that of the Manchester United and England teams, could be compromised makes him a darned fool, at the very least.
It is said that he and his party caroused on a five-hour drinking bender before his arrest, quaffing vintage champagne like lemonade, gorging themselves on steak and lobster (rounded off with a greasy £4.50 doner kebab, perhaps to remind him of his working-class roots).
That, alone, was surely reason enough for England manager Gareth Southgate to drop him last night from forthcoming matches against Denmark and Iceland.
We might also wonder at the moral compass of Manchester United, who last night issued a statement making it clear they are standing by their skipper, a statement that did not include one word of chastisement.
But when you have paid a world-record £80million for a defensive player, there may be a natural inclination to put morality aside and protect your investment.
Whatever one’s view, Maguire is the last person we would expect to find in this position. So how has it happened?
The son of a hairdresser and a Co-op Insurance man-turned-financial adviser, he is certainly no fool.
Harry Maguire has been withdrawn from the England squad for next month's Nations League games after he was found guilty of assaulting and bribing Greek police in Mykonos
Maguire passed eight GCSEs, including four As, and staff at the Roman Catholic high school he attended say he could have gone to university had he not made the grade as a footballer. His best subject was maths.
Indeed, he returns to the school to coach football, raise money for charity and give motivational talks, and he is regarded as such a great role model that his photograph adorns the corridor walls. Will it now be torn down?
As he struggled up the footballing ladder he gained the reputation of a quiet but dependable leader.
‘Someone you’d want with you in the trenches,’ was how one former colleague described him to me.
Others used adjectives such as solid, unflappable and imposing – reasons, we must suppose, why United chose him to follow in the footsteps of the ultimate gentleman footballer, Bobby Charlton.
In a rare personal interview, Maguire described himself in similar terms. ‘I try to keep my feet on the floor, stay humble, and let my ability do the talking.’
Has he lost that humility? Has his head been turned by the glamour of leading the world’s most famous club – a lifestyle he can never have imagined when he was plying his trade in the lower divisions?
Sadly, court documents seem to suggest this may be the truth. But we must hope, for the sake of all those children who dream of emulating him, that football’s Mr Ordinary hasn’t turned into a rather unpleasant Flash Harry after all.
Dame Vera Lynn’s version of the traditional anthem is currently number one and number two in the chart. It comes after a campaign on Twitter by outspoken actor Laurence Fox in response to the BBC’s announcement Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia would not be sung at the Last Night of the Proms.
The actor urged followers to help propel the British song to number one, saying: “Would the @BBC then have to play it? What a beautiful day that would be.”
When it reached the top spot, he tweeted: “Absolutely amazing! Number 1. What a brilliant day! The people have spoken @BBC.”
Former Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney added: “Getting Land Of Hope & Glory to No1&2 might seem like a small victory.
“But it isn’t. It’s a totemic & symbolic backlash.
“The wokes have finally woken the silent majority. Let’s keep fighting!
“And hats off to @LozzaFox for rallying the troops.”
Brexiteer Emily Hewertson wrote: “How can the British Broadcasting Company be so out of touch with Britain?
“Common sense has prevailed. I love this country.”
The row over Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia was sparked by reports the two songs could be dropped from the Last Night of the Proms due to their perceived association with colonialism and slavery.
But the BBC fuelled the controversy when the broadcaster confirmed the traditional favourites would be performed but without the lyrics.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened and insisted it is time we “stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history”.
He said yesterday: "I just want to say, if it is correct, which I cannot believe that it really is, but if it is correct, that the BBC is saying that they will not sing the words of Land Of Hope And Glory or Rule, Britannia! as they traditionally do at the end of The Last Night of the Proms...
"I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness.
"I wanted to get that off my chest."
And Business Secretary Alok Sharma suggested the BBC use subtitles so viewers can sing along at home.
He told Times Radio: "Personally, I would like to see the lyrics sung and of course it is always possible to put lyrics up as subtitles on the screen so if people want to they can join in at home.”
There will be no audience at the concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall on September 12 because of coronavirus restrictions.
Members of the audience usually sing along and enthusiastically wave flags when Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory play.
BBC director-general Lord Hall said he backed the decision to ditch the lyrics this year.
The BBC has confirmed the patriotic anthems, which are hugely popular, will be sung at next year’s Last Night of the Proms.
Deaths in the UK rose above average for the first time since mid June this week - but COVID-19 is not thought to be the reason behind this rise. The Office for National Statistics said the heatwave during the week ending August 14 is likely to explain the weekly increase.
There were 9,392 deaths from all causes in England and Wales in the week ending August 14 - 447 more deaths compared to the previous week.
This took the number of deaths that week to 3.4 percent above the average for this time of year over the past five years - the first time the average has been exceeded since June 12.
But deaths involving coronavirus have been steadily falling.
There were 139 deaths registered in the week ending August 14 that mentioned “coronavirus", an 8.6 percent fall from the 152 deaths in the previous week.
It is the lowest number of weekly deaths involving COVID-19 registered since the week ending March 20, before the lockdown.
Meanwhile Professor Karol Sikora said he was “not worried” after a man became reinfected with the virus in Hong Kong.
He tweeted: “I’m not as worried about the reinfected man in Hong Kong as some.
“On first infection he was sick enough to be hospitalised, second time he would never have known he had it if he wasn't screened as he had no symptoms.
“Sounds like his immune system is doing a good job.”
Russia reported 4,676 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, pushing its confirmed national tally up to 970,865.
Authorities said 115 people had died of COVID-19 over the last 24 hours, raising the official death toll to 16,683.
8.06am update: Williamson rules out mandatory school face coverings extension
When asked if the measures could be extended, he told the BBC: "No, no, there's no intention of extending it beyond that because as both Dr Jenny Harries said and Schools minister Nick Gibb said is that actually that isn't what is required.
"But where you're seeing in local lockdown areas, we recognise the importance in making sure that we maintain education in every part of the country.
"The last thing that we ever want to see close is schools and we need to ensure that all schools are open so that children are able to access our world-class education that we all want to see them benefiting from."
7.45am update: Clarity of face masks given
Teachers have now been given clarity on the rules surrounding the use of face masks, according to Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders.
He told BBC Breakfast: "We now know that if you are in an area of high risk you will have to wear a face covering if you are in secondary school.
"If you are not in a high area of risk, then it will be at the discretion of your school or your college.
"I think that kind of clarity which gives that flexibility will not be welcomed by everybody, but it will be welcomed, I think, by a lot of the headteachers and other senior leaders I represent."
7.34am update: Gavin Wiliamson on school return
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the Government wants to create an environment with safety at its "absolute core" as schools get set to return across England.
He said: "As we look towards next week and the following week as more and more schools come back, we want to create an environment that has safety at the absolute core of everything that we do.
"Because the safety for pupils, the safety for those who work in schools, is absolutely critical for all of us."
Mr Williamson added: "What we're recommending in terms of mandating the wearing of face coverings in communal areas for secondary schools is only in a very, very small number of areas in the country which are in local lockdown.
"What we're doing is we recognise that there are added concerns in those communities about transmission.
"But we also recognise how important it is for every child to get back."
7.30am update: Education Secretary addresses face masks in schools
Gavin Williamson said the "best" scientific and medical advice indicates that the wearing of face coverings in all schools is not necessary.
He told Sky News: "We always follow and listen to the best scientific and medical advice, and that's why we're not recommending that face coverings should be mandatory right across the country in all schools.
"The best scientific and medical advice says that that isn't necessary."
Mr Williamson added: "We are recognising the fact that there are certain areas of the country where there's a high instance, or a higher instance, of coronavirus that we're taking an extra precautionary measure.
"When we do look at school return, the key thing, the thing that has informed us most of all, yes, it is for scientific and medical advice and it's been on the basis of how we ensure that all schools are as safe as possible."
As schools reopen and government advice changes, what exactly are the rules on face coverings in the UK's schools?
What is the situation in Scotland?
Face coverings should be worn by staff and pupils when moving around secondary schools from 31 August.
Scotland's education secretary John Swinney said the rule will apply on school transport for primary school pupils aged five and above, and all those at secondary school in communal areas, but not in classrooms.
What about England?
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Previously, Public Health England did not recommend face coverings in schools and the Department for Education said pupils and staff were mixing in consistent groups, so masks were not necessary.
But on Tuesday evening, the DfE decided face coverings would be mandatory in communal areas of schools where social distancing was difficult. This is only for secondary schools in regions where lockdowns are in place due to higher coronavirus transmission. As of Tuesday evening, these areas were Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Leicester, Luton and Northampton.
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The rules do not include classrooms and it does not affect primary school pupils. In parts of the country that do not have higher transmission, headteachers will be left to decide whether face coverings are needed.
What about Wales and Northern Ireland?
A decision will be made in Wales on Wednesday, but current guidance says masks are not recommended.
In Northern Ireland, post-primary pupils will be asked to wear face coverings in communal areas.
Will the advice change?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that the government will "look at the changing medical evidence as we go on".
He added: "If we need to change the advice then of course we will."
