A FURTHER 17 coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Scotland over 24 hours as the nation prepares to mark once year since the first life was lost to the virus in the country.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman updated the nation at today’s Scottish Government Covid-19 briefing and said the total number of deaths under the daily measurement – where a person dies within 28 days of a positive test – now stands at 7500.
However, she said the latest National Records of Scotland figures show there have been more than 9000 deaths. These figures differ as they record all deaths where the virus is mentioned on the death certificate.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: Falls in Covid cases allow for easing of lockdown
Freeman said the fact that tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the first Covid-19 death being recorded in Scotland shows how the pandemic has brought grief and heartache over the last year.
The Government is discussing how it can commemorate the lives lost, and plan to hold a national minutes’ silence on March 23 – the one-year anniversary of the beginning of lockdown.
There were also 682 coronavirus cases recorded in Scotland over the last 24 hours, accounting for 3.4% of all tests carried out.
Of the cases 276 were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 116 were in Lanarkshire and 102 were in Lothian. The remaining cases were spread across eight other mainland health board areas.
There were 512 people in hospital, a decrease of 13 on the previous day, and 38 people in intensive care, down two.
Freeman also updated Scots on the vaccination roll-out, saying 1,844,636 people have received their first dose. This marks an increase of 18,836 on yesterday.
Some 149,409 people have also received their second dose, an increase of 7966.
Daily rates have been affected by a recent dip in vaccine supply, however Freeman expects over the next two weeks levels will significantly increase.
The Government expects 400,000 doses to be delivered next week, with first doses to be given to all remaining priority groups by mid-April.
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