Coronavirus: Scotland records 245 new cases in last 24 hours

Scotland has recorded 245 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

The new infections amount to 5.4% of newly-tested individuals.

The latest Scottish Government figures revealed there have been no deaths related to the virus overnight but the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak is now 24,371.

New figures confirmed 63 were in hospital as of midnight on Saturday, with nine in intensive care.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde saw the largest increase in cases, with a rise of 60.

In Lothian, the figure increased by 53 overnight, with 49 more cases recorded in Lanarkshire and 23 in Fife.

The latest update comes just hours after health secretary Jeane Freeman announced a Scottish Government decision on lockdown would happen “very shortly”.

She said: “We’re not seeing community transmission at this point, but are seeing large clusters and outbreaks of cases in some parts of Scotland.

“So we’re working this weekend with scientific and clinical advisers to understand what might be the additional measures that we can put in place.”

She added First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had hoped to have a Cobra meeting with the four nations this weekend to discuss measures “to see if we could reach a shared view”, but the Prime Minister was still considering the request.

When asked when the decision on lockdown measures may be made, Freeman replied: “We certainly will have an announcement very shortly.

“Not necessarily today, but definitely by the early part of next week.”