POSITIVE cases of coronavirus in Scotland have risen by 123 as the number of daily tests hit its highest number since the start of the pandemic.
A total of 20,318 people have contracted the virus, according to the Scottish Government.
However, the increase of 123 on Saturday is 0.7% of the total tested on Saturday, the same figure as Friday.
The rise is the highest in more than a week, when the same number was recorded on August 22.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly said that World Health Organisation guidance states the pandemic is under control if the number of new daily cases is less than 5% of those tested.
On Twitter, Sturgeon said: “123 Covid cases reported today. The circumstances and any connections/patterns are being closely examined, and Test & Protect is working hard to break transmission chains.
“While the increase is of course a worry, it is important to note that the positivity rate remains below 1%.”
123 Covid cases reported today. The circumstances and any connections/patterns are being closely examined, and Test & Protect is working hard to break transmission chains. While the increase is of course a worry, it is important to note that the positivity rate remains below 1%. https://t.co/Bh09DWsEo0
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 30, 2020
The figure for total daily tests was the highest since the start of the pandemic, the figures show.
Between Scottish and UK Government controlled testing in Scotland, 26,786 people were screened.
Current testing capacity is 40,000 during the week, the First Minister has stated previously, but the Scottish Government is looking to increase that figure to 65,000 in preparation for a possible surge in demand over the winter months.
No new deaths were announce by the Scottish Government on Sunday, meaning the total number of people to die after a confirmed coronavirus case remains at 2,494.
The number of people in hospital with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 also dropped to 255 from 258.
Of these, five people were in intensive care, the same as the day before.
Again, the highest daily increase in cases was seen in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board, with 39. NHS Lanarkshire also saw an increase of 26.
Both health boards have been dealing with localised clusters in recent weeks.
Other areas hit by outbreaks saw just a small increase, with six new cases in Grampian and seven in Tayside.
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