Scotland has fourth day in a row without virus deaths
THERE have been no new coronavirus deaths in Scotland for a fourth day in a row – but the number of new cases has climbed to a three-week high.
A total of 2490 people have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus– no change on Saturday’s figure.
The latest Scottish Government figures on Sunday show 19 new cases have been recorded, bringing the total number of people testing positive for the virus to 18,359.
This is the highest number of new cases since 26 were announced on June 21.
The Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health board has now had 4884 cases – up from the 4871 announced in Friday’s coronavirus briefing.
On Friday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced at her daily briefing that 18 people had tested positive for Covid-19 over the previous day, adding the rise was being “looked at very closely”.
But on Saturday, figures dropped back to single figures, with seven new cases.
Speaking on Twitter after the latest figures were announced, Sturgeon said the rise will be “closely examined”.
She wrote: “Another day yesterday with no registered deaths of people who had tested positive for Covid-19.
“New cases though – 12 more than yesterday.
“We can expect to see daily variation – but as on Friday, these are being closely examined. And it’s a reminder that the virus hasn’t gone away.”
A total of six patients are in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, the latest figures show, which is no change on the previous day. Meanwhile, the First Minister has said she will not shy away from taking a decision to impose quarantine on English visitors to Scotland, but neither will it be a decision she takes lightly.
Asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday about the possibility of self-isolation for visitors from south of the Border, the First Minister said the UK nations need to work together on outbreak management in a way that “mitigates against having to put any border restrictions in place”.
She said she is not “immediately planning” to implement a quarantine policy but will “take decisions the best I can to protect the health of Scotland and to take that absolutely from a public health perspective”. Sturgeon said that the Scottish
Government has to take a “very close look” to make sure the virus is not coming into Scotland from other parts of the UK.
Sturgeon said she would like to see the UK Government be more explicit that it is trying to get to levels of coronavirus that are “virtually elimination levels”.
“We need to be sure that any outbreaks in England are being properly managed, just as England will want to be sure that any outbreaks in Scotland are properly managed,” she said.
The Scottish Government has been criticised for its policy early in the pandemic of discharging hospital patients into care homes without being tested for coronavirus.
Almost half (46%) of Covid-19 deaths in Scotland relate to care homes, according to the National Records of Scotland.
Asked about the Government’s record, Sturgeon said she regrets and apologises for every death from Covid-19.