Hospital patients can now have a visitor

People in hospital who do not have coronavirus will be able to have a designated visitor from tomorrow.

Until now hospital visits during the pandemic have only been permitted in special cases, such as a patient dying or needing a birthing partner to be present.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The continued progress we are making in suppressing the virus has allowed us to safely, and in a series of phases, resume hospital visiting in line with clinical expert advice.”

Meanwhile, the number of daily coronavirus cases in Scotland has fallen back to single figures after a rise of 18 on Friday led First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to warn against complacency.

Some 18,340 people have tested positive for coronavirus north of the border, an increase of seven.

No Covid-19 deaths were reported over that period, meaning the total number of fatalities remains at 2,490 for the third day.