Latest news in brief

● Transport Minister Michael Matheson MSP announced, with immediate effect, ferry companies would no longer take non-essential travellers. Only those who need to travel to or from the mainland for essential supplies or business are permitted.

● BBC Radio 4 will broadcast five episodes of The Archers each week, instead of the usual six, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Friday’s episode will be replaced, and the station will feature a shorter than usual omnibus on Sundays, with the new schedule running until the end of April.

● Health officials have issued a rallying call to blood donors after donations dipped by 15% as concerns grow around the coronavirus pandemic. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said donations slumped over the last week but the impact has been mitigated by the cancellation of a number of pre-planned procedures in the NHS.

● US vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen have tested negative for the coronavirus as three American states with a combined population of 70 million moved to restrict residents to their homes. The couple were tested after a member of Mr Pence’s staff tested positive for the virus, with press secretary Katie Miller tweeting she was “pleased to report that the Covid-19 test results came back negative”.

● A man has appeared in court accused of making fake coronavirus test kits and attempting to send them across the world, police said. Frank Ludlow, 59, of West Sussex, was arrested at a Post Office near his home on Friday after 60 Covid-19 treatment kits were seized by police in the US.

● Musicians have lost an estimated £13.9 million in earnings due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Musicians’ Union (MU). A poll commissioned by the union – the results of which were collected on Friday – suggests that nine in 10 of those working in the UK music industry have been affected, with job opportunities down by 69% on this time last year.

● Sunday Brunch was pulled from the Channel 4 schedule yesterday due to coronavirus concerns. The live celebrity cooking programme, hosted by Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer, was due to air at 9.30am and feature guests including Richard Blackwood, Jamie Bamber and Fleur East.

● John Lewis, clothing giants Primark and New Look, and cobblers Timpson were among those retailers which confirmed the closure of outlets for the foreseeable future due to the virus outbreak.