Coronavirus: One more death and 267 new cases in Scotland

Another person has died with coronavirus in Scotland, while 267 new cases have been reported overnight.

In identical case figures to Tuesday, Wednesday’s figure of 267 infections amounts to 3.6% of newly-tested Scots.

The latest Covid-19 fatality takes the death toll among Scots who died within 28 days of their positive coronavirus test to 2501.

But separate weekly figures from National Records of Scotland count all deaths where Covid was cited as a leading or contributory cause, including people who were never tested for the virus or who died more than 28 days after their test.

They show five deaths involving coronavirus in the week ending September 13.

Including both sets of figures, it suggests the most up-to-date Covid death toll in Scotland is 4236.

Of the five deaths last week, three occurred in hospitals and two in care homes.

Out of Scotland’s 267 new coronavirus cases, 105 were confirmed in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area and 40 in Lanarkshire, where seven council areas currently have in place a ban on indoor household gatherings.

There are also 45 cases in the NHS Lothian region, 16 in Grampian and 15 in Forth Valley, with the rest spread around the Scottish mainland.

There are 51 people in hospital being treated for coronavirus, up three on Tuesday, and six in intensive care, which is unchanged.

Addressing Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said cases are rising but that deaths are much lower than they were in the spring and early summer.

However, she warned given the virus’ incubation period, there will likely be a time lag where cases rise first before deaths also eventually increase.

The First Minister said: “Cases are rising and we absolutely can’t afford to be complacent about that.”

She added: “The need for me to report deaths is a more regular feature of these briefings now than it has been for quite some time.

“Unless we act to stem community transmission now it is highly likely that cases of serious illness and deaths will rise in the weeks to come.

“If community transmission continues to rise as night follows day we will see more cases of people in hospital and unfortunately more cases of people dying.”

Sturgeon pointed to France as an example where hospital cases and deaths were now rising.