NICOLA Sturgeon has warned that this weekend is likely to dictate how Scotland moves forward with Covid-19 in the wake of the R number rising above 1.

A further 350 new cases of coronavirus have been reported in Scotland, the highest daily increase since April 25 when 354 cases were recorded.

A breakdown shows there have been 116 new cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

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According to Scottish Government figures, a further three people who tested positive for the virus have died.

The figures bring the cumulative number of Covid-19 confirmed deaths in Scotland to 2505 since the outbreak began.

However, going by monthly data from the National Records of Scotland, there have been 4236 deaths where the virus is mentioned on a death certificate.

The new infections amount to 5.3% of newly tested individuals.

There have been 56 new cases in Lanarkshire and 80 in the Lothian region.

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The First Minister tweeted: “Even with that there will always be fluctuations in daily figures – that’s why we look at seven day averages to balance out variations in testing etc.

“Even with that caveat though, today’s report underlines fact that Covid is rising. @scotgov is considering over [the weekend] what further action is needed.

“Given serious situation across UK, I have also asked again that a four nations Cobra meeting takes place over next 48 hours. While each of the four UK nations will reach our own decisions – rightly and properly – it makes sense to seek as much co-ordination and alignment as possible.

“We know from experience earlier in the year that speed and decisiveness of action is important in the fight against Covid, so @scotgov will seek to reach considered decisions as quickly as possible, and I will update as usual through my daily briefings.

“In meantime, I ask everyone across Scotland to be extra careful. Minimise interactions with other households and keep to a maximum of six people from two households (if in Glasgow, E/W Dunbartonshire, E/Renfrewshire and N/S Lanarkshire please don’t visit other households at all).”

As nervous Scots looked at what the weekend would bring, there was a setback when a ward at Forth Valley Hospital in Larbert was shut down after a “small number” of Covid-19 cases were reported.

A health board spokesperson said: “NHS Forth Valley confirm that a ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital has been temporarily closed to new admissions and visiting has been paused as a precautionary measure whilst investigations are undertaken into a small number of cases of Covid-19 identified through Test and

Protect.”

LINDA Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, believes the only way to stop a spike in numbers of people going to hospital is to “pause other parts of the economy”.

She said: “The priority for the Scottish Government and most people is keeping the schools open, keeping education going.

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“If we don’t want more people going into hospital, we are going to have to pause other parts of the economy.

“Closures will be a last resort – the more restrictive lockdowns – and things like curfews may be an intermediate step but I think it’s almost inevitable.

“The other thing I would anticipate in terms of the ongoing restrictions in meeting in each other’s homes is we may see travel restrictions applied within the country, because obviously we don’t want one area with higher cases to affect a neighbouring area.”

And as students either set out on their university experience or resume their courses, those attending St Andrews were bedding in for the weekend without the usual pre-Freshers Week anticipation.

Principal Sally Mapstone had asked students to stay within their households from 7pm on Friday and urged them not to party, go to bars or restaurants, and to avoid mixing with any groups outside their own households. All events for the weekend were postponed.