Coronavirus cases linked to Sitel call centre rise to 24

A total of 17 employees at the test and trace site in Bellshill have Covid-19 along with seven of their contacts.

The cluster of cases associated with an outbreak at a Sitel-run test and trace centre in North Lanarkshire has risen to a total of 24.

The call centre at Eurocentral near Bellshill, operated by the firm on behalf of NHS England, has seen 17 employees test positive for coronavirus – a rise of two on yesterday.

A further seven people who have been in contact with those working at the site have been diagnosed with Covid-19, up from five on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Scottish Government briefing on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said the total of 24 cases is a rise of four from the day before.

Across Scotland, there are 16 new cases of coronavirus in Scotland overnight, with four in Lanarkshire, the First Minister said.

It brings the total of number of cases in the country over the course of the pandemic to 18,500.

However, she also revealed no new deaths among confirmed Covid patients in Scotland for seventh straight day in a row.

It means the death toll including confirmed and presumed coronavirus deaths remains at 4193.

The 16 new positive cases in Scotland account for 0.4% of all coronavirus tests carried out in the last 24-hour period.

A total of 287 people are in hospital with Covid-19, eight fewer than the day before.

Of those, just two Scots are being treated in intensive care, a decrease of one.

STV News is now on WhatsApp

Get all the latest news from around the country

Follow STV News
Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

WhatsApp channel QR Code