Scotland records 22 new coronavirus cases but no deaths

Scotland has recorded 22 new coronavirus cases, the third day in four where there has been more than 20.

The majority are in Lanarkshire and “at least some” could be linked to the cluster of cases recently identified at a test and trace centre in Bellshill, Nicola Sturgeon said.

But the First Minister also confirmed a fifth straight day of no deaths among confirmed Covid patients.

A total of 618 people are being treated in Scottish hospitals overall with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a rise of 51 on the day before.

Of those, 20 are being treated in intensive care, an increase of ten, but just four of the total are confirmed cases.

The FM said from Wednesday, suspected cases will no longer be included in hospital and ICU figures.

She said this is because all elderly hospital patients are now tested for Covid regardless of if they have symptoms but that until they get their test results, they are counted as suspected cases, resulting in major fluctuations in the data day-to-day.

On Monday, just seven new cases of coronavirus were confirmed overall in Scotland, but it was the first day of single-digit cases in four days.

Sunday saw 23 new cases of the virus – the highest figure in weeks – 21 the day before that and 17 last Friday.

It comes as testing figures have also spiked in Scotland since the inclusion in recent weeks of previously unaccounted-for home testing kit and care home test results.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Scottish Government briefing, Sturgeon looked to reassure Scots work is being done to ensure that chains of transmission are broken.

She said: “A health board breakdown of these cases will be available later today as normal.

“However, the provisional information I have is that the majority of these cases are in Lanarkshire and at least some of them are likely to be connected to the outbreak at the Sitel call centre that had been doing work for NHS England.

“I will chair a Scottish Government resilience meeting later this afternoon to consider the latest situation in Lanarkshire and also to consider any further steps that may be required.”

The First Minister added: “These figures are a sharp reminder of something that you’ve heard me say on a regular basis in Scotland – that the virus is still here.

“That said, a great deal of work is being done, not least through Test and Protect, to understand all of these cases, follow up contacts of them and make sure that all necessary and appropriate steps are being taken.”

The First Minister went on to reiterate the importance of hygiene measures, and asked Scots to look at their own actions to see if they have “dropped their guard”.

She added: “We all have a part to play in keeping this virus under control.”