ANOTHER four people have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
It takes the total number of deaths under that measurement to 2476.
A further 12 people have been diagnosed with the disease, taking the total to 18,182.
Some 865 patients are currently in hospital with Covid-19 either confirmed or suspected – two fewer than yesterday, including a reduction of three in the number of confirmed cases.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: 65,700 excess deaths in UK according to 'cautious' estimate
Of those, 21 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid 19 – an increase of 6, though all of those are suspected cases.
Since 5 March, 3995 patients who had tested positive and been in hospital have been discharged.
Speaking at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing, Sturgeon sad: "Today’s statistics again show – very starkly – the human cost of this virus. However, they also underline the very significant progress that we’ve made, in suppressing it.
READ MORE: English people think Nicola Sturgeon is handling coronavirus crisis better than Boris Johnson
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here