Coronavirus: Number of Scots in hospital with Covid-19 at highest level for 13 months

The number of people in Scottish hospitals with coronavirus is at its highest for 13 months, according to new figures published on Thursday.

There were 1636 people in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19 on Wednesday, up 127 on the previous day.

That is higher than the Omicron peak of 1571 that was recorded in January this year, with more patients in hospital than at any time since February 8, 2021, when the total was 1672.

Hospital numbers peaked at 2053 in January, 2021.

The latest Scottish Government statistics also show another 41 coronavirus-linked deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours – more than double the total of 18 from the previous day.

The number of confirmed infections was also up to 14,387, the highest daily total since early January.

Health secretary Humza Yousaf said on Wednesday that recently rising Covid-19 case numbers are “concerning and a reminder that Covid is still with us” and urged people to get their vaccinations.

Meanwhile, NHS Grampian’s head of health intelligence told Scotland Tonight the Covid booster programme will likely be expanded to include other age groups later this year.

She said “there’s every chance” a fourth jab will be needed as the protective effect of vaccination continues to wear off.

Of the 1636 people in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, 22 are in intensive care, a rise of three from the previous day.

The 41 deaths reported on Thursday, up from 18 on Wednesday, mean the number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 has risen to 10,947.

So far, 4,439,451 people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination, 4,165,704 have received their second dose, and 3,459,127 have received a third dose or booster.