Scotland's coronavirus death toll rises by 48 to 495

The number of people in Scotland to die after being diagnosed with coronavirus has risen to 495.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 48 deaths from Covid-19 had been recorded since yesterday.

A total of 5275 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 318 from 4957 the day before.

There are 207 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, a decrease of five on Thursday.

Sturgeon added that 1832 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

At the UK Government’s daily briefing later on, health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed a total of 8958 patients have died in hospitals across the UK after testing positive for Covid-19 as of 5pm on Thursday – an increase of 980 from the day before.

The First Minister praised the work of health and care staff across Scotland, as well as paying tribute to those who have lost their lives due to the virus.

Giving an update on Thursday’s Cobra meeting, she said the UK would remain on lockdown.

She added that there was no evidence of any change to the spread of the virus which would be needed to lift the restrictions.

The First Minister said: “As that evidence becomes available we will be able to review the situation, but for now, the message remains exactly the same as it has been.”

Travel levels in Scotland have also been reduced, Sturgeon said, as she thanked Scots for adhering to the lockdown rules.

Sturgeon said that the Scottish Government expects that the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital, set up at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, will not need to be used.

She said: “Let me be clear, our current hope, indeed our current expectation, is that this hospital will not need to be used.

“But it is important that we prepare now so that it is available if it is necessary.”

The First Minister added that the hospital will be available for use “from mid-April”.

Jason Leitch: ‘Exercise is not recreation’

During the briefing, National Clinical Director Jason Leitch urged the public to follow guidance on when they should be outside during lockdown.

He said: “Exercise is not recreation, not your hobby.

“You need to just use it for 30, upto 60 minutes a day, from your home.”