Another 31 Covid deaths as cases surge by 1001 overnight

A further 31 people have died in Scotland after being diagnosed with coronavirus, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

Total confirmed cases of the virus has risen to 104,306 – a jump of 1001 in the past 24 hours.

It is the highest daily rise recorded since November 26 where 1225 cases were reported.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 briefing on Friday, Sturgeon said the test positivity was below 5%.

She said: “And that’s encouraging because as you will have heard us say previously, 5% on test positivity is the threshold that the World Health Organisation considers to be the determinant on whether an outbreak is under control or not.”

The official death toll in Scotland now stands at 4070, however weekly figures on suspected Covid-19 deaths recorded by National Records of Scotland suggest the most up-to-date total is now at least 6022 – which takes into account this week’s additional deaths.

According to management information reported by NHS boards across Scotland, 999 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 – an increase of 15 overnight. Out of those, 53 patients are in intensive care.

Of the new cases reported on Friday, 246 are in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region, 196 are in Lothian, 125 are in Lanarkshire, 117 are in Ayrshire and Arran, and 111 are in Grampian.

The remaining cases are spread across six other health board areas.

Meanwhile, Sturgeon said she was “pleased” with the uptake of a community testing programme in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

More than 5000 people came forward to be tested – around 40% of the target population.

“That is a good uptake and one that we are pleased about,” the First Minister added.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came forward for a test, and to thank all of the local partners who helped to deliver the trial quickly and safely.”