BBC News Scotland

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National clinical director Jason Leitch has defended the proportion of coronavirus tests being carried out in Scotland compared to some other European countries.

"The differences between the countries is over-simplified," he told BBc Scotland's Drivetime programme.

"The test is only useful to us in people with symptoms and the number of people with symptoms, because of the behaviour of the people, is hopefully falling.

"So that means that testing is being used very wisely for those with symptoms, to survey the country and to get people back to work."

Mr Leitch suggested that testing will become important - to test, track and isolate - once the government decides to start relaxing the lockdown.

"As that testing becomes better and more elaborate, it will help us on the way out," he adds.

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The boss of a care home where the deaths of nine residents have been attributed to Covid-19 has criticised the Scottish Government over a lack of testing.

The Newark Care facility in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, said no staff or residents had been tested, despite repeated requests to the government.

Chief executive Jack Ryan has now written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlining his concerns, after she announced on Wednesday all symptomatic staff and residents in care homes would be tested.

He wrote: "You stated that it is standard practice for testing of early cases to be carried out within care homes. You need to be aware that despite having now lost nine residents whose deaths have been reported as coronavirus-related, there has been no testing at any point."

Meanwhile, nine residents have died at a care home in West Dunbartonshire from suspected coronavirus, with a further 16 showing symptoms.

Earlier this week, National Records of Scotland figures indicated nearly a quarter of all deaths linked to Covid-19 in Scotland were in care homes.

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Social media and video calls, live-streamed exercise classes and online teaching have become lockdown staples for children.

But what about families where for various reasons, relying on the internet is not an option?

Shumela Ahmed, who runs a training and education company called the Resilience Learning Partnership, started a scheme in the Clackmannanshire area which is delivering 250 boxes to families, packed with craft materials to keep children busy.

One mother happy to receive one was Suzie Weir, whose 12-year-old son Zac has learning difficulties, while his younger brother Lucas has such complex health issues that the whole family is having to isolate for 12 weeks.

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A limited use of mobile phones for prisoners is to be allowed.

The Scottish government and Scottish Prison Service are backing the move to maintain contact between people in custody and their families during the Covid-19 outbreak.

There would be security restrictions on the phones, as with the current prison landline system. Outgoing calls could be monitored and would only be possible to numbers already included in existing prisoner call lists. The phones would not be text or internet-enabled or be able to receive incoming calls.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “It is important that prisoners and their families are supported while the current prison visit restrictions are in place."

Vickie Larkin/RZSS

For those wondering what animals get up to while zoos are closed due to the coronavirus lockdown...

Hamish, who in 2017 was the first polar bear cub to be born in the UK in 25 years, shares an enclosure with his mum Victoria at the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, near Aviemore.

He has been pictured by keeper Vickie Larkin wearing one of his favourite toys, a big empty blue barrel, on his head.

Barrels, traffic cones and construction helmets donated to the park are used to help stimulate Hamish, Victoria and two other polar bears in another enclosure, Walker and Arktos.