A warning to take precautions as daily Covid cases top 5,000
The number of cases has hit a new record for a single day in Scotland, and passed 5,000 for the first time
For the second day in a row Scotland has recorded a new record high number of daily coronavirus cases, as the number of positive test results tops 5,000 for the first time.
Five deaths of Covid-19 patients and 5,021 new cases were recorded, according to figures published by the Scottish Government.
Cases and hospital admissions continue to increase
The number of people being treated in hospital has also continued to increase, there are 27 more patients than yesterday, with the total currently 391. That number has gone up for the fifth consecutive day.
Of these patients, 44 are in intensive care, a rise of one on the previous day.
The daily test positivity rate is 11.0%, down from 14.5% on Tuesday.
An appeal to "follow health advice and take sensible precautions"
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged people to follow health advice and take precautions.
She posted on Twitter: “Another sharp rise in number of cases today (tho % positivity is lower than y'day, reflecting more tests).
“Vaccines still protecting against serious illness, but we all need to take care and act in a way that minimises risk of getting/spreading the virus.
“Please follow health advice and take these sensible precautions to keep yourself and others safe: get vaccinated. wear face coverings, wash hands and surfaces, keep a safe distance from others, stay outdoors as much as poss, ventilate indoor spaces.”
She told a Scottish Government coronavirus briefing on Tuesday that she could not rule out imposing new restrictions in future as cases rise.
The latest figures take the death toll under the daily measure - of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days - to 8,085.
The daily statistics differ from weekly National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures also released on Wednesday as the latter include all deaths where coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate - which was 10,505 as of Sunday.
NRS figures show 41 Covid-related deaths in Scotland in the last week
The NRS data shows 41 fatalities where Covid-19 is listed on the death certificate were registered in the week from August 16 to August 22, the same as the previous week.
Of the latest deaths, 12 people were aged under 65, six were 65-74, and 23 were 75 or older.
The majority - 28 - were male, with 13 female.
Edinburgh, Fife, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire had the joint highest numbers of deaths, with four each.
Thirty-five deaths happened in a hospital, with four in care homes and two at a home or in a non-institutional setting.
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