Scottish death toll from virus up nine

Figures released as Sturgeon says PM’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings should quit in row over 260-mile lockdown trip

The number of patients in Scotland who have died after testing positive for Covid-19 has risen by nine to 2,270, according to the latest statistics.

Figures published by the Scottish Government show the rise in the past 24 hours.

The statistics indicate 15,101 people have tested positive for Covid-19, up 60 from 15,041 the previous day.

There are 845 patients in hospital who have tested positive for Covid-19, up four from 841 on Saturday.

Of these, 33 were in intensive care, a fall of three in 24 hours, while 11 people were in intensive care with suspected Covid-19, also down three.

The figures were released ahead of the daily Scottish Government briefing attended by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, national clinical director Jason Leitch and chief nursing officer Fiona McQueen.

At the briefing, Ms Freeman was questioned on whether a full-scale review should be carried out into care homes in Scotland, as Police Scotland said it is investigating three deaths at

Home Farm care home on Skye, where 10 residents have died in a coronavirus outbreak. She said a review should be held into the structure and funding of the care home sector in Scotland.

The latest briefing came as Nicola Sturgeon called on Boris Johnson’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings to quit after reports he broke lockdown rules by travelling from London to Durham.

The first minister drew a comparison to the resignation of Catherine Calderwood as Scotland’s chief medical officer after she visited her second home twice earlier in the crisis.

She tweeted: “I know it is tough to lose a trusted adviser at the height of crisis, but when it’s a choice of that or integrity of vital public health advice, the latter must come first. That’s the judgment I and, to her credit, Catherine Calderwood reached. PM and Cummings should do likewise.”

Earlier, she posted on Twitter asking the public to “stick to lockdown rules for now”.

She said: “Please stick to lockdown rules for now & not just because they are the rules – they remain the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.

“Please stay at home except for essential purposes, stay two metres apart from others when you are out and don’t meet other households.

“If you have Covid-19 symptoms – a new, persistent cough, fever, loss/ change of taste/smell – please isolate at home for 7 days. If someone in your household has symptoms please isolate for 14 days.

“We will review the current rules on Thursday and hopefully, evidence permitting, move to Phase 1 of @scotgov routemap out of lockdown, with the gradual easing of some restrictions.”

“Please stay at home except for essential purposes... and don’t meet other households

Picture: PA. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said a review should be held into the structure and funding of the care home sector after 10 residents died on Skye.