Scotland confirms 558 new coronavirus cases in record high

Scotland has recorded 558 new coronavirus cases overnight, the most on record.

It amounts to 9.5% of newly-tested individuals, the highest proportion of positive tests since the government began publishing the data in July.

The World Health Organisation says countries who keep that percentage under 5% generally have their epidemic under control.

No new deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the organisation which notifies the Scottish Government of fatalities had suffered a power outage.

Of the new cases, 255 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 61 in Lanarkshire and 119 in Lothian.

It comes as infections surge among student populations around the country, however, the First Minister insisted the new cases “are not just a university problem”.

On Thursday, the governing body Universities Scotland announced students will be banned from pubs and restaurants or from socialising outside their household this weekend in a bid to curb the spread.

At Friday’s briefing, Sturgeon stressed it was just a temporary measure to try to stem immediate Covid-19 outbreaks on campuses.

She added that the Scottish Government is assessing if students can be allowed to leave student accommodation to return to their family homes.

It follows new Scotland-wide restrictions this week banning people from visiting other people’s homes and imposing a 10pm curfew on all pubs, bars and restaurants.

Friday marks the second day this week the single-day record for new coronavirus cases in Scotland has been broken after 486 cases were announced on Wednesday.

There are 89 people in hospital around Scotland confirmed to have the virus, up by four in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 11 are in intensive care, up by one.