Coronavirus: 74 more deaths take Scottish death toll to 296

There have been 74 more deaths of people with Covid-19 reported in the last 24 hours in Scotland, taking the country’s death toll to 296.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stressed the spike is partly due to fewer deaths reported at the weekend.

Just four new deaths were reported over Saturday and Sunday.

Total confirmed cases of the virus in Scotland are up by 268 to stand at 4229.

There are now more than 1000 confirmed cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, with the health board reporting 1094.

A total of 786 Covid-19 patients have died in hospitals across the UK in the last 24-hour period, taking the country’s total deaths to 6159.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily press briefing in Edinburgh, the First Minister said 199 patients are in intensive care – the same figure as Monday, but this does not necessarily mean they are the same patients.

She said a total of 1751 people with Covid-19 are being treated in hospital overall.

Sturgeon also took the opportunity to send her best wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is being treated in intensive care with Covid-19.

She said the Prime Minister’s illness showed that the virus “simply doesn’t discriminate”.

The First Minister said: “At times like this, things that divide us in normal times just seem so much less important and we are very much reminded of that again today.

“Right now, all of us are just human beings united in a fight against this virus.

“As we know, the Prime Minister – as well as leading the UK’s response – is currently in hospital fighting his own personal battle against coronavirus.

“I chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s cabinet this morning and we recorded our very best wishes to him.

She added: “I’m sure I do this on behalf of all of Scotland, I want to send every good wish to him, to his fiancee and to his whole family.

“We are all willing you on Boris, get well soon.”

Stressing that the UK and Scottish governments would continue to work closely in their response to the disease, Sturgeon said: “The Prime Minister’s illness will not affect us as people would expect.

“There will still be co-operation on key strategic decisions which take place, where appropriate, between the Scottish Government, the UK Government and the other devolved governments.

“My ministers have, for a number of weeks, joined UK ministers for regular meetings on health, public services and the economy, and that will continue.”

She said the number of deaths recorded in past 24 hours is “relatively large” because the National Records of Scotland has not yet moved to a new system of recording deaths seven days a week.

Total cases by health board area / daily change

Greater Glasgow and Clyde: 1094 (+110)

Lothian: 621 (+44)

Lanarkshire: 547 (+35)

Tayside: 516 (+17)

Ayrshire and Arran: 296 (+8)

Forth Valley: 243 (+12)

Grampian: 210 (+1)

Fife: 239 (+12)

Dumfries and Galloway: 152 (+8)

Borders: 149 (+10)

Highland: 112 (+10)

Shetland: 42 (+1)

Western Isles: 4 (no change)

Orkney: 4 (nc)

Addressing concerns around care home support, the First Minister said the Care Inspectorate watchdog had found that “appropriate procedures” were in place at Castle View Care Home in Dumbarton.

Reports emerged on Monday that eight residents with Covid-19 had died at the home.

Sturgeon added: “The Care Inspectorate will continue to provide advice and support to that home and to others.

“The Scottish Government is working with the inspectorate to understand the broader impact of Covid-19 on the care sector so that we can support health and care workers as much as possible.”

Chief nursing officer (CNO) Fiona McQueen also spoke at the briefing, giving an update on the emergency hospital currently under construction at Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus (SEC).

The CNO said work had been under way “24 hours a day” since last week to ensure the field hospital, named the NHS Louisa Jordan, could open as soon as possible.

The hospital will be able to accommodate 300 patients, with the possibility of adding an extra 700 beds if necessary.

Ms McQueen also told the briefing that there would be oxygen provisions for each patient at the site.

The CNO paid tribute to NHS staff, the construction workers and military for their work at the site, adding: “We’ve had over 8000 pieces of medical equipment ordered and 23,000 square feet of flooring.

“It is truly beginning to take shape and beginning to look like a hospital.”

More to follow