A FURTHER 70 coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Scotland, the Health Secretary has confirmed.
Speaking at the Scottish Government daily briefing, Jeane Freeman said the total number of deaths recorded under the official measurement – where a patient dies within 28 days of a positive test – stands at 6040.
The fact this number has passed 6000, she said, “is another distressing reminder of the toll this virus has taken”.
There have also been 1155 new positive Covid-19 cases recorded over 24 hours, accounting for 5.8% of all tests carried out.
Of those new cases there were 337 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 207 in Lanarkshire and 147 in Lothian. The other cases were spread across 11 other areas.
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As of 8.30am, Freeman added, 515,855 people have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
Elsewhere there were 1958 people in hospital with Covid-19, 25 fewer than the previous day. Of those 144 were intensive care, an increase of two people.
During the update the Health Secretary also issued a warning about coronavirus in the Western Isles.
Most of the Western Isles is currently in level 3, but six new cases were recorded today. Yesterday there were nine.
While these do not sound like big numbers, Freeman said, due to the relatively small population size they are serious.
It follows an outbreak on Barra and Vatersay – those areas are now in level 4. A decision will be made today on whether all of the Western Isles will move into level 4.
She urged people not to wait for that announcement and stay at home to stop the spread of Covid-19.
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