Covid-19 is ‘spreading again in Scotland’, says first minister

ANOTHER patient in Scotland has died with coronavirus as cases rose by 101 in 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s regular coronavirus briefing, the first minister also confirmed the R number, which indicates the reproduction rate of the virus, is now thought to be above one.

She said this is a “a reminder that the virus is spreading again here”.

The reproduction rate of coronavirus in Scotland is now “probably above one” and could be as high as 1.4, she said.

The rate, which suggests the average number of people who are infected by a single positive case of the virus, was believed to have been below one for some months.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I said recently that the R number is of slightly less concern when overall prevalence of the virus is low, and overall prevalence of the virus is still low in Scotland right now.

“But nevertheless this is a reminder that the virus is spreading again here, just as it is elsewhere in the UK, across Europe and indeed in the wider world, so it is a reminder of the need for us to take this seriously and do all of the right things.”

Confirming a further death of a patient who first tested positive in the previous 28 days, she said the Scottish death toll under this measurement is now 2,496.

Ms Sturgeon said the person died in mid-August but Public Health Scotland “have only now got all the information required”.

She also told the briefing that 20,889 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland, up by 101 from 20,788 the day before.