Sturgeon in clear after self-isolation

Nicola Sturgeon is no longer selfisolating, after testing negative for coronavirus. The first minister said she was “relieved” by the results of the PCR test, which she had taken after being identified as a close contact of someone with the virus.

Under Covid rules, double-vaccinated adults and all children can avoid self-isolation if they are a close contact of someone with coronavirus so long as they are symptomless and provide a negative PCR test.

The first minister had her second dose of a vaccine in June.

Scotland had recorded more than 7,000 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, a new record high, with Ms Sturgeon announcing she had been identified as a close contact.

Following the guidance, she self-isolated until receiving a negative PCR test.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted she was “relieved to report that my PCR test is negative”.

She said: “Coupled with fact I’m double vaccinated – with second dose more than two weeks ago – that means I no longer need to isolate.”

However, she said she would continue doing regular lateral flow tests as an “added precaution”.

With the number of people with Covid in Scotland’s hospitals also rising, Ms Sturgeon also urged people to follow health advice and take sensible precautions.

She tweeted: “We are seeing a rising curve of cases in Scotland.

“It’s reassuring that vaccines are preventing the levels of serious health harms that case numbers like this would once have caused.

“However, we can’t be complacent and are monitoring carefully.”

The number of positive cases in Scotland dropped dramatically over the last 24-hour period to 3,893, according to the latest figures from the Scottish Government.

No new deaths of coronavirus patients were recorded, meaning the death toll under the daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – remains at 8,111.

The daily test positivity rate is 14.1%, up from 13.5% the previous day.

A total of 551 people were in hospital on Sunday with recently confirmed Covid19, up by 44 on the previous day, with 52 patients in intensive care, no change.

So far, 4,103,687 people have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination and 3,668,041 have had their second.

PRECAUTION: Nicola Sturgeon tested negative for Covid.