Nicola Sturgeon has ordered all SNP members to stop campaigning during the coronavirus crisis. 

In a letter, the First Minister urged supporters to cancel social events or use "remote technologies" rather than meeting in person. 

She wrote: "As efforts to delay the spread of the Covid-19 virus step up, everyone needs to do everything they can to avoid contact with others."

"Obviously, for our movement, that means suspending all campaigning."

She asked activists to focus on helping vulnerable people in their community during the pandemic and wrote: "Focus on looking out for your family, friends and neighbours - paying particular attention to the elderly or those who have underlying health problems."

The First Minister added: "Together we can make sure we are looking out for those around us. Together we can care for those who are already and vulnerable."

The Herald:

Earlier today, Nicola Sturgeon insisted the Scottish Government is not keeping any secrets from the Scottish public over the spread of Coronavirus.

Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, the First Minister praised the work of frontline NHS workers and detailed plans to increase the capacity of intensive care provision following the latest rise in cases of Covid-19.

More than 170 Scottish patients have tested positive for the condition, with one person dying as a result of the disease.

At a briefing yesterday, Ms Sturgeon warned that Scotland was “on the cusp of a rapid acceleration of the spread of coronavirus,” adding that measures being put in place to curb the progression of the disease would “ significantly and substantially change life as we know it for a considerable period of time”.

The Herald:

Asked by Laura Maxwell on Tuesday morning what the government was “not telling [us]”, the First Minister said: “I'm not not telling you anything."

"Of course if I came on here and tried to get into every detail of information I'm looking at on NHS preparedness then I would overload you and we would not have time to do it. 

"I am not keeping anything back and I will not be keeping anything back.It is really important to give a balance of information and to try to inform people without scaring people."

Around 360 ventilators are currently available for use in Scottish hospitals, however the First Minister confirmed plans to increase that to a minimum of 700 over the next few weeks.