One new death as Scotland breaks records

One new death from coronavirus has been recorded in Aberdeenshire, as Scotland broke its records for most new cases and tests carried out in a single day.

The number of new cases across the country passed 4,000 for the first time ever, with 4,234 recorded, just three days after passing the 3,000 mark for the first time.

The test positivity rate was 10.5%, up from 9.8% yesterday but not as high as it has been in previous days.

More coronavirus tests have been carried out in the past 24 hours than on any other day since the beginning of the pandemic, with 42,843.

The latest Scottish Government statistics show the death recorded of a person in Aberdeenshire yesterday was one of six across Scotland, with one in Clackmannanshire, another in Dundee and three in Falkirk.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde yesterday became the first health board in Scotland to record more than 1,000 new Covid cases in a single day, with 1,091.

NHS Grampian’s total was down from 308 on Wednesday to 263 yesterday, with 136 new cases in Aberdeen City, 105 in Aberdeenshire and 21 in Moray.

NHS Highland recorded 140 new cases, four fewer than Wednesday, while Orkney recorded one and none were reported on Shetland or the Western Isles.

The number of people with coronavirus in Scottish hospitals has made a significant leap in the past 24 hours from 235 to 275 – an increase twice as large as that reported on Wednesday.

However, the number of patients with Covid in intensive care has fallen by three to 16.