Covid-19 deaths rise by 34 as confirmed cases exceed 14,000

Another 34 people with coronavirus have died in Scotland, while confirmed cases in the country are now more than 14,000.

It takes the death toll among those who tested positive for Covid-19 to more than 2000 – a total of 2007.

Counting all deaths involving the virus, including suspected Covid-19 cases, the death toll is 3363.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily press briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said there have been 188 new positive cases of coronavirus reported in the last 24 hours, taking Scotland’s total to 14,117.

There are 71 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, an increase of one on Wednesday, the First Minister said.

A total of 1480 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 54.

And more than 3200 people who tested positive for coronavirus have been able to leave hospital since the outbreak began.

Sturgeon announced that so far some 250,000 free food parcels had been sent out to Scots who are “shielding” as they are deemed to be most vulnerable to Covid-19.

Some 175,000 people are in this category, with more than 50,000 having signed up for the free delivery service.

She sought to reassure this group, telling them they would “not be forgotten about as we think about our next steps in tackling this virus and how we adapt to living with a new normal where this virus will be present for a long time”.

The FM said: “We will set out steps over the days and weeks to come over how we do emerge from the lockdown, but I don’t want anybody in the shielding group to think you are being left behind.”