Biggest daily rise in Covid cases for almost four weeks

SCOTLAND has recorded its highest daily positive coronavirus tests for almost a month.

Figures released by the Scottish Government show there were 21 confirmed results over a 24-hour period as of 2pm yesterday. It is the highest since June 21, when there were 26 positive test results.

Deputy First Minister John Sweeney warned the public of the ongoing threat of coronavirus, with the surge in positive cases coming after lockdown measures were eased on Wednesday.

He tweeted: “Thankfully another day of no deaths recorded due to #COVID. 21 positive cases however remind us of the danger still out there.”

The data also shows there were no deaths involving someone who had been confirmed as having Covid-19, meaning the death toll under this measurement remains unchanged from Thursday at 2,491. A total of 18,422 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland.

There are 305 people in hospital with confirmed Covid19, a decrease of 11 from Friday.

Of these patients, three are in intensive care – which is the same as the previous day. However, five other people are in intensive care with suspected coronavirus.

Scotland’s national clinical director, Jason Leitch, tried to play down concerns over the rise, saying he expected to see “day-to-day variation” in the number of new cases.

Eight of the positive tests came from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, five were in NHS Lothian, and the remainder were from seven other health boards.

Leitch told BBC Scotland he did not believe the new cases were part of a cluster. He said: “I expect day-to-day variation and the next thing I look at is the spread around the country.

“So 21 in one small town would worry me much more than 21 spread around the country – and these 21 are spread around the country.”

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have called on the First Minister to rule out quarantine measures for visitors from other parts of the UK.

Willie Rennie has written to Nicola Sturgeon asking her to clarify that border restrictions will not be put in place, claiming the potential for one is having a “real financial toll” on businesses.

The Scottish LibDem leader said: “The threat of cross-border quarantine is taking a real financial toll on hard-hit small businesses across Scotland.

“Constituents have been in touch with me to report losing thousands of pounds worth of bookings from English visitors who are thinking twice about venturing north. We will, of course, have to be responsive to any flare-ups or cluster outbreaks of the virus. But this blanket threat is harming our tourism sector in a critical and already cut-short season.”

In his letter, Rennie called on the First Minister to ensure that support schemes for the tourist and hospitality industry are extended to support the sector through its recovery. He also asked Sturgeon to use her next press conference to make clear that a nationwide quarantine of people from the rest of the UK will not happen.