Highest Covid death toll since June
Three more confirmed coronavirus patient have died in Scotland, making it the first time that many deaths have been recorded in one day since June 30, and bringing the total number of Covid-19 fatalities on the daily count to 2,499.
Speaking during the Scottish Government's daily briefing, the First Minister said 21,719 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 176 from 21,543 the day before.
This represents 2.3% of people newly tested, down from 2.4% yesterday.
Of the new cases, 91 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 32 in Lanarkshire and 16 in Lothian.
"We should listen to the warning signals that are already here'' - Nicola Sturgeon
There are 267 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, an increase of 11 in 24 hours.
Of these patients, six were in intensive care, up one.
The First Minister criticised the "really dangerous delusion'' that rising numbers of cases among younger people should not be a concern.
Nicola Sturgeon said: "The risk of a young person getting seriously ill or dying is thankfully lower, but it is not zero, and I would ask people of all ages to remember that.''
Reiterating that three deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours - the first time in more than two months - she said: "We should listen to the warning signals that are already here''.
Ms Sturgeon added: "We don't live in entirely generationally segregated ways.
"If transmission becomes established in the younger population, it will eventually reach the older and more vulnerable population.
"So to younger people, please think about your loved ones as well as yourselves, which I know everybody does.
"And to older people, be even more vigilant about hygiene and distancing if you're spending time with young relatives who may have been in pubs and restaurants.
The First Minister said the "really unwelcome'' decision to impose more lockdown restrictions on Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire was a "proportionate'' response to rising coronavirus cases.
There are now restrictions preventing people meeting in homes in East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Refrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Glasgow City.
"Overall, I believe that they represent a proportionate and hopefully effective - but also an absolutely necessary - response to a worrying increase in Covid-19 across these areas.
The rise in coronavirus cases in Inverclyde and Lanarkshire "does not warrant additional restrictions'' but the Government would be keeping that decision under review, she said.
Gatherings in people's homes remain the biggest source of coronavirus spreading in the west of Scotland, rather than the hospitality sector.
"However, we know some transmission is taking place in pubs and restaurants and so we will also keep that under close review.
"We'll discuss with the five local authorities concerned what further steps we can take to ensure that pubs, bars and restaurants are operating in line with the necessary rules.''
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