Coronavirus: Scotland records most new cases for two months

Scotland has recorded 31 new cases of coronavirus, the biggest daily jump for two months.

It is the second time in three days the country’s daily Covid-19 caseload has reached 30, with 13 of Sunday’s new infections linked to a cluster in Aberdeen.

The 31 new cases account for 1.1% of all newly-tested individuals in the last 24 hours, the first time since the Scottish Government began publishing the statistic that it has exceeded 1%.

It is the highest number of daily infections since the figure of 49 recorded on June 4.

NHS Grampian announced details of a new Covid cluster earlier on Sunday, with 13 cases linked to the Hawthorn Bar in Aberdeen city centre.

All those who tested positive are showing only mild symptoms, though the health board says there may be further cases linked to the outbreak.

The pub had social distancing measures in place and contact tracing is being carried out in line with the Scottish Government’s test and protect scheme.

Zero deaths among confirmed Covid patients in Scotland have been reported for the 17th day in a row, by far the longest stretch of no fatalities Scotland has seen over the course the pandemic.

However, separate figures tallied weekly by National Records of Scotland – which also include suspected coronavirus deaths – show eight deaths linked to the virus in the week ending July 26.

Combining confirmed and presumed Covid fatalities, the death toll in Scotland stands at 4201.

Sunday’s statistics show 265 patients in hospitals across the country with coronavirus, a rise of five on the day before.

Of those, three are being treated in intensive care, a figure which is unchanged.