Coronavirus: 78 more deaths in Scotland as cases rise by 1753

A further 78 people have died in Scotland after being diagnosed with coronavirus, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

Total confirmed cases of the virus has risen to 160,992 – a jump of 1753 in the past 24 hours.

The daily test positivity rate is 8.4%, up from the 7.5% reported on Friday when 2160 cases were recorded.

Of the new cases reported on Saturday, 466 are in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region, 295 are in Lanarkshire, 170 are in Ayrshire and Arran, 169 are in Lothian and 163 are in Grampian.

The rest of the cases are spread out across eight other health board areas.

According to NHS boards across Scotland, 1863 people are currently in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 – an increase of three overnight. Out of those, 145 patients are in intensive care.

The death toll of those who had tested positive stands at 5305, however weekly figures on suspected Covid-19 deaths recorded by National Records of Scotland suggest the most up-to-date total is at least 7074.

On Saturday tougher restrictions came into force across the majority of Scotland in the battle to stem the spread of the deadly virus.

Customers are now no longer able to collect takeaway food and drink from inside the premises. Takeaway alcohol to drink outside is also forbidden.

Under the new restrictions, takeaway operators must now serve only from a hatch or window.

Meanwhile, click and collect services – which have been reduced to only those deemed “essential” – must offer staggered appointments.

The Scottish Government has also closed a loophole in its stay-at-home order that allowed people to do non-essential things after leaving home for an essential purpose.

Statutory guidance urging employers to support workers to remain at home “wherever possible” has also been strengthened.

The tighter restrictions affect all local authority areas in level four of the Scottish Government’s five-tier alert system.