SCOTLAND has recorded almost 6000 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data.
Scottish Government figures show that there were 5858 new coronavirus cases, accounting for 14.2% of the 43,450 tests that reported results.
The new cases are a decrease from yesterday's highest-ever daily case total of 6835 by almost 1000 cases but there was no change in the test positivity rate of 14.2%.
The latest data also showed that there were a further eight deaths of people who had coronavirus. This brings the total under the daily measure – of people who died within 28 days of first testing positive – to 8111.
Across Scotland's hospitals yesterday there were 494 patients with recently confirmed Covid-19, a rise of 15 on the previous day. Of these people, 49 were in intensive care, a rise of two.
Some 4,098,078 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 3,640,865 have received a second jag.
The area in Scotland with the highest seven-day rate of coronavirus cases is currently West Dunbartonshire where Public Health Scotland data shows there are 970 cases per 100,000 people. This is closely followed by East Dunbartonshire with 964 cases per 100,000 people.
Despite high figures, the Scottish Government is not currently considering a "circuit breaker" lockdown to stem the spread of the virus.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a Covid briefing yesterday that the Government is "watching closely" a potential rise in serious illness and hospitalisations.
However, she also urged people to take individual steps to counter the current surge in cases and avoid the need for future restrictions.
She said: "This is, as I said yesterday, a potentially fragile moment in our journey through this pandemic and it comes down to all of us, even though life feels so much more normal again, we've got to continue to do the basic things and take the basic precautions of hygiene, face coverings, staying outdoors, ventilating rooms indoors."
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