NICOLA Sturgeon has issued a reminder to Scots as the country recorded the highest Covid case numbers and hospitalisations it has seen since January.
The First Minister spoke after some 14,387 Covid cases were recorded on Thursday, while 1636 people were in hospital with confirmed Covid – up 127 on the day before.
That figure was higher than the Omicron peak of 1571 which was recorded in January this year, with more patients in hospital than at any time since February 8 2021, when the total was 1672.
In January 2021 hospital numbers peaked at 2053.
Meanwhile, the latest figures showed Scotland recorded another 41 coronavirus-linked deaths – more than double the total of 18 from the previous day.
Sturgeon took to Twitter in response to the numbers. “Life is much more normal again – thankfully,” she wrote. “But this is a reminder that Covid hasn’t gone away.
“Vaccines are protecting most of us from the worst impacts of this virus – but many still do end up in hospital.”
She added: “Please continue to take sensible precautions, like wearing a mask.”
It is just 10 days until Scotland is due to lift its mask rules – but the Scottish Government will still “strongly recommend” that people use face coverings in indoor spaces.
Speaking when the announcement was made in February, the First Minister also made clear the Scottish Government would “continue to ask those who test positive for Covid to isolate for the recommended period”.
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