Coronavirus in Scotland: two weeks without a confirmed Covid-19 death

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed the latest coronavirus figures for Scotland.

Speaking from Holyrood, the First Minister confirmed that Scotland has reached its 14th day without a coronavirus death.

It means the total death toll of people who tested positive for Covid-19 remains 2,491.

Confirmed cases of the virus rose by 17 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 18,597.

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed the latest coronavirus figures for Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The number of patients in hospital with confirmed or suspected coronavirus stands at 260 - the same number as reported yesterday.

Two people are being treated for the virus in Scotland’s intensive care units.

Ms Sturgeon said Scotland’s progress was “real and substantial”, calling the two-week achievement “very hard earned.”

But, she said, “the virus has not gone away”, saying that Scotland could not yet move to Phase Four of its lockdown easing plan yet.

The First Minister also noted a change to the advice for people who test positive for coronavirus.

While previously those who tested positive had been advised to self-isolate for seven days, Ms Sturgeon said the National Clinical Directors of the UK now advised them to self-isolate for 10 days instead.

She also told people who are currently shielding for health reasons that they will be allowed to stop doing so from August 1.

They will still be required to follow the same guidance as the rest of the general population.

Addressing any shielding people who may be anxious about the change, Ms Sturgeon said the decision had been taken because “we believe it is safe to do so.”

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