THE smallest increase in Covid-19 hospital numbers since Christmas has been recorded in Scotland.

Giving the latest coronavirus figures during the Scottish Government’s daily briefing, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said 2004 people are in hospital with the virus, up one in 24 hours, and 161 patients are in intensive care – an increase of five since Wednesday.

The R number in Scotland is now estimated to be around 1 and has “probably fallen during the last week”, Swinney added.

But the figures also show 89 more deaths from coronavirus have been recorded in the past 24 hours and 1636 positive tests.

Swinney said the figures show the current lockdown measures are “at the very least helping to stabilise case numbers” but he added the number of infections occurring remains “concerningly high”.

He stressed lockdown restrictions are “vital”, adding: “They are the single most important way in which we can reduce case numbers and ease some of the pressure on our health and social care services.”

The Deputy First Minister also said that three new walk-in testing centres are opening in Scotland this week. He said each of the new centres can perform up to 300 Covid-19 tests a day, and they take the total number of walk-in sites to 28.

Swinney also announced more support for childminders – many of whom have been seen their businesses suffer as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

He said up to £1 million of Scottish Government cash is being used to help those who have been financially affected, adding that childminders will be able to apply for grants of up to £1000 each.

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“Childminders play a hugely important role and the work they do is valued and appreciated by families across the country,” he said.

“This new fund will provide them with some of the support they need in order to continue to carry out that role.”

He added he would “ideally” like to give teachers, pupils and parents two weeks’ warning before reopening schools but suggested it may happen with less notice.

Swinney said he hopes to give “as much notice and as much certainty as possible” about any return to face-to-face teaching.

“We’ll try to give as much notice and as much clarity at the earliest possible opportunity, but it will depend on two factors – the scientific advice available to us about the impact of the virus on particular age groups and cohorts of pupils, and it will depend on the general prevalence of coronavirus within our society.”

It follows comments by UK Government Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said he would give schools in England a “clear two-week notice period” so they are able to properly prepare to welcome all pupils back.

Swinney said a phased return to in-class teaching is being considered by the Scottish Government’s education recovery group.

He said: “It is much more likely that we will bring different cohorts of pupils, and we’re exploring what might be the groupings that could be brought back within the context of the scientific and clinical advice that is available to us.”

Explaining the factors that will influence the Government’s decisions on the further reopening of schools, Swinney said: “We’ve got to look in detail at the effect of the virus on children and young people themselves and their ability to transmit the virus.”

Swinney said 168,219 people had tested positive in Scotland, up from 166,583 the previous day. The daily test positivity rate was 7%, down from 7.5% on the previous 24 hours.

Of the new cases, 510 were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 328 in Lanarkshire and 182 in Lothian.

Swinney added that 334,871 people had received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.