Infections at record high amid warning of further measures
SCOTLAND has recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases ever as nearly 500 people tested positive in only one day.
Nicola Sturgeon voiced a ‘real cause for concern’ yesterday as she warned Scots over the soaring Covid-19 rate.
Despite imposing draconian new measures only 24 hours earlier, the First Minister claimed this may not be enough to curb the virus in Scotland.
And she warned that further restrictions could be needed in the coming weeks – following a ban on household gatherings and a new curfew for the hospitality sector.
In total, 486 positive coronavirus cases were recorded on Tuesday – with new figures showing the death rate had doubled in the past week.
Of the new cases, 224 were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area where a strict ban on household meetings has been in place for three weeks.
A further 107 people were diagnosed with the virus in Lanarkshire while 57 cases were identified in the NHS Lothian area.
Two deaths have also been recorded in the 24-hour period prior to the announcement, meaning 2,508 people have now died after testing positive for the virus.
But figures released yesterday from the National Records of Scotland – which account for all deaths registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate – show the number of fatalities stands at 4,247.
Speaking during the Scottish GovernHowever, ment’s daily briefing, Miss Sturgeon said the rise in cases is a ‘real cause for concern’ that underlines ‘why we took very decisive and very tough action’ to try to get the virus back under control.
She added: ‘That is the highest number of positive cases we have ever recorded in a single day. However, for context it must be remembered that many more people are being tested now than was the case in the spring.’
Scotland is currently carrying out nearly ten times more tests every day than at the height of the pandemic in April.
And Miss Sturgeon said it was important to remember that with the rising cases there is also a rise in testing.
But, she added: ‘Nevertheless, today’s numbers represent 7.8 per cent of people newly tested.
‘That is obviously a real cause for concern, but it also underlines why we took very decisive and very tough action yesterday.’
The World Health Organisation says 5 per cent of people tested having positive results is too high.
One of the toughest new restrictions for Scots is a ban on indoor household gatherings – which has been in place for Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GG&C) and other regions in the West for three weeks.
the GG&C health board has continued to record a rise of around 100 cases per day in recent days – with this jumping to 224 cases yesterday.
This has led to calls for Miss Sturgeon to publish data on whether the ban is effective after it was widened to the whole of Scotland.
Donald Cameron, the Scottish Conservative health spokesman, said: ‘With strict new restrictions in force across Scotland, people will rightly be asking for clear guidance and for the rationale behind these decisions.
‘While we are supportive of measures taken in order to protect public health, there is a need for the SNP Government to be fully transparent on the decisions they reach.’
However, Miss Sturgeon explained that the figures for Glasgow had been particularly high due to a significant outbreak at the University of Glasgow.
Overall, the number of new daily UK coronavirus cases has topped 6,000 for the first time since May.
UK Government data showed an increase of 6,178 cases and a further 37 deaths over the previous 24 hours.
It is the biggest jump in daily coronavirus cases since May 1, when 6,201 new infections were recorded – and up from 3,991 the same time last week.
Experts said the leap in cases was ‘unwelcome news’ but also likely to reflect issues in the testing system, rather than the virus spiralling out of control.
Professor James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and Professor of structural biology at the University of Oxford,
‘A cause for real concern’
urged people not to panic. He said: ‘The sudden jump is likely to reflect issues in the testing system reporting. It seems very unlikely we are back to a doubling of cases every three to four days.
‘We will need to see a few more days of data to judge how fast case numbers are doubling.’
The latest reported deaths from hospitals, care homes and the wider community brings the total number of UK coronavirus fatalities to 41,862. Professor Naismith added: ‘Medical and scientific advances will significantly reduce this toll compared to the height of the pandemic.
‘We are not spectators, by masking and distancing wherever possible we will all help reduce the toll.
‘While no one is absolutely safe from serious illness, the risk of Covid19 is predominantly faced by the elderly and vulnerable.’