SCOTLAND has seen more than 4000 new Covid cases recorded in a single day for the first time ever – and recorded six further deaths. 

Figures released by the Scottish Government show that 4234 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.

This number is the highest ever recorded in a single day, and the third time that the record has been broken this week.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week saw three days consecutive days with more than 3000 cases recorded, despite numbers never having been that high before.

The 4234 recorded in the past 24 hours represent 10.5% of the 42,843 new tests for Covid-19 that reported results in that time period.

This positivity rate is more than double the 5% threshold which the World Health Organisation says indicates the virus is under control. 

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Furthermore, the latest figures show six more coronavirus patients passed away in the last day.

These latest deaths bring the total number under this measure – of people who died within 28 days of first testing positive – to 7722.

There has also been a jump in the number of Scots in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19.

There are now 275 people in hospital with the disease, an increase of 40 from yesterday. Of these, 16 people are in intensive care, three fewer than yesterday.

In terms of the vaccine roll-out, 3,816,251 people have received the first dose of the Covid jag. A total of 2,722,725 people have received their second dose.

Reacting to yesterday's record-breaking figure, which has today been broken again, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Vaccines are now doing much of the work we needed heavy restrictions to do in the last wave. And thankfully, we continue to see a much lower burden of serious illness."