Coronavirus deaths in Scotland rise by 18

A total of 1,249 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, a rise of 18 in the last 24-hours, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

The number of people who have tested positive for the virus north of the border is 10,324, up 273 from Saturday's figure of 10,051.

The figures published on the Scottish Government's website confirmed 1,735 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, this is down by 13. Of these, 133 were in intensive care, a fall of seven.

Speaking at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman urged some caution on the latest daily death figures, stressing deaths registered at the weekend tend to be relatively low.

She said more than 22,000 students and former NHS and care workers have volunteered join or return to the health and care workforce, since an appeal was launched four weeks ago.

A number of these volunteers have been placed with NHS boards and pre-employment checks are being carried out for more than 3,000 more.

Ms Freeman said 150 people have been placed into the care sector and a further 200 are available.

She said not everyone who applied to help will be needed immediately but urged them to bear with us'', sayingsuch a large number of volunteers really matters and it provides us with important flexibility''.

Ms Freeman said less than half of the 160,000 people in Scotland who are shielding have registered for a text service for help, at 78,000.

She urged all those eligible to sign up for the service, even if some do not currently need it.

She said 80,000 food packages have been delivered through the service so far.