Coronavirus: Seventh Scots patient dies as cases rise to 373

The number of Covid-19 cases in Scotland has increased by 51 since Friday.

Coronavirus: Seventh Scots patient dies as cases rise to 373 Getty Images

Seven patients have now died after being diagnosed with coronavirus in Scotland, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the country has risen to 373, an increase of 51 since Friday.

A total of 8259 tests have been carried out in Scotland since the outbreak began, with 7886 testing negative.

However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously stressed that the number of positive tests is likely to be an underestimate of the number of cases.

The Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS area has the largest number of patients diagnosed with the disease, with 110 people in the area being confirmed as having it.

According to the figures there are 49 cases in Lanarkshire, 44 in Lothian and 34 in Tayside.

Meanwhile, 27 people have tested positive in the NHS Forth Valley region, with 24 cases in NHS Shetland, 21 in NHS Ayrshire and Arran and 20 in the Grampian area.

Dumfries and Galloway and Fife both have 13 cases each, while there are ten in NHS Borders and eight in NHS Highlands.

On Friday the First Minister called for the public’s help to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in a national address, branding it “the biggest challenge of our lifetime”.

Sturgeon told Scots, live on STV News: “I will do my utmost to lead us safely through – but I need your help.”

She said it was “vital” people in Scotland followed the government’s social distancing advice to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.

It follows Boris Johnson’s announcement less than an hour earlier telling all pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, clubs, gyms and leisure centres to close “as soon as they possibly can” and not open tomorrow.

Sturgeon reiterated that demand, speaking from the First Minister’s official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh.

She said everyone must act now to slow the spread of the virus, adding that we must also reduce the number of people we meet and come into contact with.

But the FM also warned the number of cases of Covid-19 are set to rise sharply.

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