Coronavirus claims lives of another 12 people in Scotland

Another 12 people have died in Scotland after contracting Covid-19.

It takes the death toll among confirmed coronavirus cases to 2375, but including presumed deaths the figure is nearly 3900.

Nicola Sturgeon also confirmed 510 elderly people were discharged from hospitals to care homes in April.

It comes after it emerged 921 patients were sent to care homes in March, before mandatory Covid-19 testing was in place.

Last week’s National Records of Scotland figures showed more than 1700 care home residents have died with confirmed or suspected coronavirus – nearly as many deaths as in hospitals.

Testing for all new admissions to care homes was announced by the Scottish Government on April 21.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s Tuesday press briefing, the First Minister also said there had been 53 new confirmed cases of the virus.

But she said only 13 of those were from the last 24 hours, with the other 40 representing older positive test results.

There are 122 more people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 than Monday, but Sturgeon said confirmed cases of the virus in hospital are down 23.

The total in hospital with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms is 1168.

Of those, 34 patients are in intensive care, a rise of seven on the day before, but all currently suspected rather than confirmed cases.

The FM also said 3721 people who were hospitalised with Covid-19 have now been able to go home since the pandemic began.

Following the relaxation of some lockdown measures last Friday, Sturgeon stressed that people still had to keep two metres apart from members of other households.

She also urged people currently not wearing a face mask or covering in shops or on public transport to reconsider, saying it is “something that we can all do to protect one another”.

Addressing reports that one metre of distance is sufficient to stop the spread of coronavirus, the First Minister urged the public to adhere to the current guidance of two metres.

She said: “You might be reading or hearing in the media today some voices saying that one metre is sufficient.

“So I want to take the opportunity today to stress that the clear and the strong advice from the Scottish Government is to stay two metres apart from those in other households.”

On face coverings, Sturgeon added: “It can offer some protection to other people, it protects them from you transmitting the virus to them without knowing it.

“It’s something that we can all do to protect one another.”