THREE more people have died in Scotland after contracting Covid-19, the First Minister has confirmed.

It is the first time since June 30 that three deaths have been recorded in the daily figures. It brings the toll among confirmed patients to 2499.

Another 176 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon announced.

The new cases represent 2.3% of people newly tested yesterday and bring the total to 21,719.

According to provisional information, 91 of the cases are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 32 in Lanarkshire, 16 in Lothian, 8 in Ayrshire and Arran. The remaining 29 cases are spread across the other seven mainland health boards.

Every mainland health board reported new cases in the past 24 hours.

Some 267 patients are currently in hospital with Covid-19, is 11 more than yesterday.

Six of those are in intensive care, an increase of one.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s briefing, Nicola Sturgeon commented on the deaths registered in the past 24 hours.

She said: “This reminds us of the impact the virus has had and continues to have, but most of all, of course, that figure speaks of three individual tragedies.”