Coronavirus: Two more deaths as cases jump by 800 overnight

A further two people have died in Scotland after being diagnosed with coronavirus, the First Minister has confirmed.

Total confirmed cases of the virus has risen to 33,706 – a jump of 800 in the past 24 hours.

The official death toll in Scotland now stands at 2532, however weekly figures on suspected Covid-19 deaths recorded by National Records of Scotland suggest the most up-to-date total is more than 4200.

The 800 fresh cases amount to 13.2% of newly-tested Scots.

Of the new cases, 303 are in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region, 167 are in Lanarkshire and 164 are in Lothian.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s briefing on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon said the remaining cases are spread across nine other health board areas.

According to management information reported by NHS boards across Scotland, 262 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 – an increase of 44 overnight. Out of those, 25 patients are in intensive care.

Meanwhile, a number of residents have died and dozens of people have tested positive in new coronavirus outbreaks at two care homes.

NHS Lothian said a “small number” of residents at Redmill Care Home in East Whitburn, West Lothian, and Milford House in Edinburgh have died after contracting the virus.

The health board said the number of people who have died cannot be released as it is under five across both homes.

In addition to those who died, 53 further residents and staff have been confirmed to have coronavirus at Redmill Care Home, with 29 at Milford House.

NHS Lothian is leading an investigation into the outbreaks and said the homes were closed to visitors and additional testing of all staff and residents was introduced as soon as the first cases were identified.