Coronavirus: 16 more dead as cases rise to 2310 in Scotland

Another 16 people have died from coronavirus overnight, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

It brings the Scottish death toll from Covid-19 to 76.

The number of confirmed positive cases in Scotland stands at 2310 – up 317 from Tuesday’s 1993.

Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the rise at Holyrood on Wednesday.

A total of 147 patients are currently in intensive care, an increase of 12 from Tuesday.

The First Minister said the number of intensive care beds has been doubled – with the Scottish Government aiming to ensure it will be quadrupled, with operating theatres in NHS hospitals being re-purposed.

Sturgeon told MSPs that 1153 patients are currently in Scottish hospitals suffering from Covid-19.

The Scottish Government is also “working at pace” to boost its ability to test suspected cases, with the number of tests being done each day sitting at 1900 – a rise from 750 a few weeks ago.

Every health board area in Scotland has now reported cases after three were confirmed on the Western Isles and two on Orkney.

The highest number of confirmed Covid-19 patients remains in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area with 632 – a rise of 85 in a day.

There are 42 fresh cases in the Lothian region, taking the health board’s total to 311, 40 more each in Lanarkshire and Tayside, up to 284 and 254 respectively, and 22 new cases in Ayrshire and Arran, up to 199.

Forth Valley is up 15 to 146, Grampian is up 22 to 108, and Dumfries and Galloway has reached 100 cases, up eight in the last 24 hours,

There are 96 confirmed cases in Fife (up 20), 87 in the Borders (up ten), 58 in the Highlands (up seven) and 30 on Shetland (up one).

Across the UK, total patient deaths from coronavirus have risen to 2352 – a rise of 563 in 24 hours.