Four Covid deaths and 835 cases recorded in last 24 hours

Scotland has recorded four deaths of coronavirus patients and 835 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to the latest figures.

The death toll under this daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – is now 7674.

But weekly figures released by the National Records of Scotland on Wednesday showed a total of 10,122 have now died in Scotland with confirmed or suspected coronavirus

The latest data shows that eight deaths were registered that mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate in the week of May 24-30, an increase of four deaths on the previous week.

Those statistics are published weekly and cover all deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government because the NRS figures include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.

The Scottish Government data published on Thursday indicates the daily test positivity rate is 2.8%, no change on the previous day.

A total of 110 people were in hospital on Wednesday with recently confirmed Covid-19, down four from the day before, with eight patients in intensive care, down two.

So far, 3,305,812 people have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination and 2,137,618 have received their second dose.

East Renfrewshire had the highest rate of cases with 163.3 per 100,000 people in the week to May 31, followed by Renfrewshire at 149.6 over that period.

Glasgow had the third highest rate at 128.1 per 100,000 people in the seven days to May 31.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier this week that 13 council areas across Scotland are being held under tougher coronavirus restrictions for longer than previously indicated amid concern over rising case rates of Covid-19.

Sturgeon informed the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday that Dundee, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire were all being kept in level two.

They will be joined by Glasgow from midnight on Friday.

Scotland’s largest city is currently the only local authority area in the country still under level three coronavirus restrictions, prohibiting non-essential travel out of the area and imposing greater restrictions on socialising, hospitality and businesses.

A total of 15 council areas will move to level one – those being Highland, Argyll and Bute, Moray, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Fife, West Lothian, East Lothian, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

Island areas currently in level one will move to level zero of the Scottish Government’s coronavirus framework from midnight on Friday.