No new virus deaths for 10 days in a row in Scotland
FOR the tenth day in a row there have been no deaths registered from coronavirus in Scotland. The latest update also showed there were four new positive cases reported in the last 24-hour period.
The number is the lowest since July 14.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “relieved” there were no new deaths again.
More than 9000 tests were carried out on Saturday and results showed that just 0.2% were positive.
The last death from Covid-19 where a person tested positive was on July 16.
Sturgeon said she was “very relieved to report yet another day in Scotland with no deaths of people who had tested positive for Covid”.
She continued: “The four new positive cases – 0.2% of people newly tested – will be looked at closely and followed up through Test & Protect.”
The First Minister urged everyone to keep following the FACTS advice to continue to suppress the virus.
The latest low figures come as it has been announced that anyone returning to Scotland from Spain will be required to self-isolate for 14 days after it was readded to the list of countries where the rate of infection is too high.
Last week it was added to the list of low-risk countries which did not require quarantine – but a surge in positive cases meant it was re-added on Saturday.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The decision to exempt Spain was taken when the data showed there was an improvement in the spread of the virus. But clearly the latest data has given us cause for concern to overturn that decision. “We appreciate that this will be disappointing. However, we have always been clear we are closely monitoring the pandemic situation in all countries and that we may require to remove a country from the list of places exempt from quarantine requirements should the virus show a resurgence.
“It is still active and it is still deadly. Suppressing the virus, preventing it from being transmitted and protecting public health is our priority.” LibDem leader Willie Rennie criticised the decision to allow travel form Spain
He has written to Nicola Sturgeon.
He said: “This is now a shambolic situation and there is a big question as to how Scottish ministers have made such poorquality decisions.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “Our overriding priority is public safety and continuing to suppress the virus.
“Where evidence emerges that causes concern – as it has done in Spain – we must act quickly.”
The UK Government also changed its rules on Spain and removed it from the list of countries exempt from quarantine for travel to England.
The latest coronavirus statistics for Scotland showed 267 people in hospital – a reduction of three.
There were two people in intensive care being treated for coronavirus.
Of those in hospital, 161 were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde heath board area, which includes Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde.