Sturgeon in warning as deaths fall
CORONAVIRUS deaths in Scotland have dropped to single figures for the first time since lockdown. Nicola Sturgeon revealed the latest daily death total was nine but insisted the progress in reducing the virus was still fragile.
The First Minister reminded people of the lockdown rules still in place and of what they should still not be doing in order to continue to suppress the virus and prevent a resurgence.
As Scotland heads into the second weekend of phase one of easing lockdown, Ms Sturgeon reminded people not to enter other people’s homes and only to meet up with one other household outdoors.
She said the weather forecast was for rain this weekend and told the country: “If you’re not willing to get your waterproofs on, then stay at home.”
After last week telling people what they could do, and then many people heading to beauty spots like Loch Lomond and Glencoe as well as seaside towns, Ms Sturgeon this week has reminded people what they still cannot do.
She said you should not be “meeting other households indoors”.
She continued: “You should not be coming within two metres of other people, not be sharing food or utensils and should not be leaving your face uncovered in shops.”
She revealed the latest coronavirus statistics which showed another 49 positive cases recorded taking the total to 15,553.
There were 1021 people in hospital, with suspected coronavirus, a decrease of 96 and a fall in the number with confirmed cases of 21.
There was 28 people in intensive care units – a decrease of six and there were nine deaths registered taking the overall total to 2395.
However, on the lowest level of deaths registered on a weekday since lockdown, the First Minister said not too much should be read into one days figures.
In the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, there was a total of 3961 cases reported since the outbreak started. There were 317 in hospital and five in intensive care.
Ms Sturgeon said the rate of reproduction, the R number – how many people each person who has it re-infects – was between 0.7 and 0.9, which was only a very fractional fall.
Ms Sturgeon said: “It remains steady, which underpins our caution.”
She said there was progress however, with intensive care cases now 80% lower than the peak level.
She said: “Deaths are still too high. They are clearly reducing but I can’t stress enough how fragile it is. We are still seeing new cases in many health board areas.”
The lockdown rules are due to be reviewed again on June 18, but there is no guarantee that they will be relaxed further towards phase two, unless the rate of infection is lowered further and cases and hospital admissions continue to fall.