Enjoy Easter Sunday but please...do it at home

A happy Easter to everyone. The Easter bunny – along with the tooth fairy – is officially designated a key worker, so hopefully he made it to everyone’s homes this year.

For the rest of us, travelling is not an option. Please stay at home this weekend. If you’re outside then take a walk, run or bike ride locally.

You should only leave the house for food, health reasons, caring for others or for work (if you can’t work from home) and to take one form of exercise per day. If you travel further afield, you risk coming into contact with people outside your own household, whether you plan to or not. This can spread the virus. Only use your car for unavoidable journeys, and even then keep them as short as possible.

As of 2pm yesterday, 5,590 of the people tested in Scotland were found to be positive for coronavirus.

Although the Easter break is going to be very different, I’m sure we can all find ways to make it special – perhaps with virtual egg hunts and FaceTiming the family. This week, M rs Leitch has been setting daily tasks for the children of seven families we know well, to keep them busy and entertained. This week’s challenges have included Pictionary and making a 60-second TV ad on the coronavirus. Their efforts have certainly been better than mine!

The regular Thursday Clap for Carers is an amazing coming-together of sentiment and joy. We have seen some wonderful scenes on the streets of Scotland with people showing their appreciation for all our carers.

Last week I had just finished a live television interview and turned around in my garden to hear applause from all corners of the community.

And it’s been brilliant to see so many bagpipers in Scotland coming out to play their own tributes.

We must also show our appreciation for all the unsung heroes out there – such as social workers, care-at-home workers and the remarkable medical physics teams who have skilfully converted 200 anaesthetic machines into ventilators.

M y sympathy and concern has been with the Prime M inister Boris Johnson and his family this week as he has recovered from the virus in hospital.

His condition underlines the importance of social distancing and hand washing, even for world leaders.

We must show our appreciation for all the unsung heroes