Grim milestone as death toll passes 3,000

NEARLY 1,600 more Scots have tested positive for Covid – with the death toll now passing 3,000.

A further 1,596 positive results were recorded in the past 24 hours – up 49 per cent from the 1,072 cases announced on Friday.

Scottish Government figures also showed that another 39 have died, taking the total number of Covid deaths in hospital to 3,036.

The number of patients being treated in hospital for coronavirus increased overnight to 1,245, while the number of people in intensive care rose by eight to 106.

A record 29,644 test results were reported yesterday.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board had the most new cases with 602 positive results, followed by Lanarkshire with 368.

Lothian had 191 new cases and Ayrshire and Arran 118. Shetland and the Western Isles had no new cases while Orkney had only one. Nicola Sturgeon is reviewing the effect of the five-level system of restrictions and is due to make an announcement on Tuesday.

The First Minister has warned that tougher rules may have to be imposed in some council areas.

Despite noting ‘some positive signs in our data’, Ms Sturgeon said the country is still facing ‘a very fragile and volatile situation’.

She said on Friday that areas such as Fife, in Level 2, could face more curbs as cases and hospital admissions were rising.

At her daily briefing, she said: ‘In relation to Fife, we will be looking over the weekend in advance of Tuesday at all local authorities, their case numbers per 100,000, the direction of travel with infection, if it’s rising or falling, what the projections are for hospital capacity.

‘We do see some indicators in Fife that give us pause for thought and a bit of concern.’

Tougher restrictions could include the introduction of legally binding travel bans. On Thursday, the First Minister hosted a virtual meeting of the British-Irish Council to discuss a UK-wide strategy.

At present, those living in Level 3 areas have been asked not to travel outwith their council area, but the First Minister has warned that this could be put into law – with people who flout the restrictions being hit with fines.

Travel ban blow: Page 20