No confirmed coronavirus deaths in Scotland for a full week

Scotland has now gone a full week without any new confirmed coronavirus deaths.

Speaking during the daily briefing in Edinburgh, the First Minister said no Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours among patients who have tested positive for the virus - the seventh day in a row without a rise in fatalities.

A total of 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive.

The figure is lower than the 4,187 deaths reported earlier by the National Records of Scotland as they do not include suspected and probable coronavirus infections.

The latest figures show 18,373 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by five from 18,368 the day before.

Ms Sturgeon said that on three days in the week to July 9, there were no admissions to hospital of confirmed Covid-19 cases and there have been six days in total since June 26 with no coronavirus admissions.

Ms Sturgeon said: “If I think back to the early part of April, into May, what I would have given to stand here and give you figures like that.

“At the peak of this outbreak more than 200 people were for a period being admitted to hospital every day. Let's not take the risk of going back to that.”

Despite that, the First Minister admits she’s nervous about the re-opening of pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and the tourism sector.

It’s the biggest easing of lockdown restrictions in Scotland so far.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “Today the childcare sector can fully open from today, venues like museums, galleries and other attractions can also welcome visitors from today, although in many cases you will need to book tickets in advance.

“Hairdressing services resume today, in fact I understand some opened at midnight (because of) demand. I wish I had known about that.

“The changes are long awaited and have been very hard-earned by everybody across the country.

“But I have to say that I am even more nervous about today's changes than I have been about earlier changes in previous phases of coming out of lockdown.”

Many of the changes involve indoor activity, she said, adding that the risk of the virus spreading indoors, in a pub for example, is significantly higher than it is outdoors.

“That is why we have deliberately waited until infection levels were very low before allowing these services to restart, that gives us the best possible chances of managing the risk that reopening indoor services creates.

“But it doesn't remove those risks, and so it is vital that all of us stick rigidly to the rules and guidance on how to behave in these different settings.”

Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on the hour, every hour, at Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Northsound app, on your DAB radio, online at Northsound1.co.uk, or say ‘Play Northsound 1’ on your Smart Speaker.