Number in hospital 'significantly above' first wave peak

Almost 2000 people are currently being treated for coronavirus in Scotland’s hospitals.

The total of 1959 well exceeds the approximately 1500 patients who were in hospital at the peak of the first wave last spring.

There are 146 patients in intensive care at the moment, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

Medics told STV News last week that the NHS was close to the edge as it tries to cope with coronavirus.

Current lockdown restrictions, including the closure of schools, will be reviewed on Tuesday morning, followed by a statement to parliament.

Another 1429 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, but no more deaths have been recorded – probably due to registration offices being closed at weekends.

Speaking during the Scottish Government’s daily briefing, Sturgeon said 163,762 people have now tested positive in Scotland, up from 162,333 the previous day.

The daily test positivity rate is 12.3%, up from 9.5% on yesterday.

Of the new cases, 451 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 244 in Lanarkshire, and 178 in Lothian.

Sturgeon also said that 264,991 people across Scotland had now received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

She said: “Thousands of vaccinations are now taking place each day at the NHS Louisa Jordan in Glasgow and work is ongoing to establish further major vaccination sites.”

She thanked the Army for the logistical support it is providing, as she said Scotland was “on track” to complete vaccinations for care home residents, health and care staff and those aged over 80 by the start of February.

Sturgeon added that by the middle of February they hoped to have completed first doses for those aged over 70 and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable – saying people in these groups would receive appointments later in January.

In addition, it was hoped everyone aged over 65 will have had their first dose of the vaccine by the beginning of March.

But she added: “All of this is subject to getting the supplies we need.”