Coronavirus deaths in Scotland up to 60 with over 400 new cases
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed 13 more patients had died since yesterday
Scotland has seen its biggest rise in coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began, with 13 more between Monday and Tuesday.
At a briefing at the Scottish Government's headquarters in Edinburgh, the First Minister confirmed 60 people have now died as a result of the outbreak.
As of 9am on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon said the number of positive cases in Scotland was 1,993, an increase of 430 from the previous day.
She said 108 of those positive tests came from a lab that was unable to submit data over the weekend, “part of the reason why this increase is so high”.
The First Minister also said “just over 6%” of the NHS workforce in Scotland are not working due to the virus - either because they are showing symptoms of the virus or live with someone who has.
Chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood previously said officials expect around 20% of staff to be off work during the pandemic.
On Monday, the head of the Royal College of Physicians Professor Andrew Goddard told the PA news agency said 25% of doctors in the NHS were off work.
Referring to the 6% figure in Scotland, the First Minister said: “That number is relatively low and it's important to be clear that we would expect that number to rise in the weeks to come.”
She added the expansion of the testing of NHS staff will increase, allowing more workers to get back to work quicker.
The briefing came just hours after the publication of the Scottish Government's emergency Bill to tackle the outbreak.
Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell told the briefing the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill, expected to pass through the Scottish Parliament in a single day on Wednesday, will bolster the rights of tenants, shore up the justice system and allow for the continuation of a number of other governmental duties.
Mr Russell also confirmed there is a measure in the Bill to release some inmates from prison - which will be used as a last resort and be subject to further approval from MSPs.
The First Minister also announced more than £1.5 million of funding for Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland.
She said: “There is, as I think everybody understands, a real risk that women and children who are already subject to domestic abuse will feel even more isolated and vulnerable during this crisis so this funding will help ensure that they have access to support services.”
The First Minister urged anyone suffering from domestic violence to come forward.
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