THE First Minister confirmed a further 39 coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Scotland over the last 24 hours.
The latest Scottish Government Covid briefing came as the National Records of Scotland, which counts all deaths were the virus is a suspected or contributory factor, said the country’s total death toll now stands at 5868.
READ MORE: Covid in Scotland: 39 more lives lost to Covid over 24 hours
During the briefing Nicola Sturgeon spoke on several issues including travel, vaccinations, students and more.
Below are the key points from the briefing.
- Vaccinations
With coronavirus vaccinations having started yesterday, Sturgeon thanked all those involved.
“The vaccination programme is a major, enormous undertaking,” she said.
“We know there are challenges that still lie ahead in it but it was hugely encouraging, I would go as far as to say it was actually inspiring to see it get under way yesterday.”
Interim deputy chief medical officer Nicola Steedman as vaccines began
The First Minister said she would announce provisional figures for the number of people who have been vaccinated when she updates MSPs tomorrow.
She went on to discuss news that the MHRA is now advising anyone with a significant history of allergic reactions not to get the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine after two NHS workers had allergic reactions yesterday.
- Travel
New reports submitted to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), have highlighted the role of travel in “reigniting outbreaks of the virus after it has been suppressed”, the First Minister said.
She said the details show that travel restrictions are a “vital part of tackling the virus and trying to keep it contained rather than allowing it to spread across the country”.
This is why the Scottish Government is advising against all non-essential travel outside of Scotland, and why there are restrictions to and from level 3 and 4 areas, she added.
- Students
A new report on coronavirus outbreaks among students showed that between the start of August and the end of November there were almost 3000 cases linked to “student postcodes” – which are postcodes for halls of residence or other student accommodation.
Almost two-thirds of the cases occurred in a three-week period between late September and early October, Sturgeon added.
She said more than three-quarters of the cases had been found in Edinburgh and Glasgow – with around a quarter found in students living in the Pollock Halls of Residence at Edinburgh University and Glasgow University’s Murano Halls.
The First Minister also referred to a Public Health Scotland report which showed that in the seven days after November 30, some 22,000 tests on students were carried out using lateral flow devices.
These more rapid tests are being offered to those university students planning to return home for Christmas, with Sturgeon noting that because students are being urged to be tested twice, the figures do not mean 22,000 people have been tested.
But she said it was a “promising figure” which showed “strong uptake of the testing on offer to students”.
The First Minister added that the number of positive tests from these students would be published next week – but that the number was “currently thought to be relatively low”.
- Edinburgh
A BBC journalist asked the First Minister if her government followed the science by keeping Edinburgh in level 3 and if residents are being punished to stop people from coming to the capital.
Sturgeon said she understands how frustrated residents are but the restrictions are not about “punishing” anyone.
She went on: “Data doesn't lead you automatically to the answers. You have to apply judgement and contextual factors.
“After Greater Glasgow and Clyde right now the area with the highest number of cases for the past few days is Lothian, and cases are rising in Edinburgh. We have to be careful and cautious.
“If we take an area down that means places open up and the virus is more likely to spread. There is not a part of me that wants to keep an area in a higher level than necessary for longer than necessary.”
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