Coronavirus in Scotland: 1,149 cases recorded in the past 24 hours

A total of 1,149 positive cases and 53 new deaths due to coronavirus have been recorded in the past 24 hours as Nicola Sturgeon announces the latest covid figures at her 12.15 briefing today (Thursday, February 4).

The First Minister announces the latest daily coronavirus figures (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images).

Speaking at her briefing this afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon said that the new cases represent 4.9 % of the total number of tests carried out- the first time Scotland has recorded a percentage lower than 5% in more than a month.

This takes the total number of covid cases in Scotland up to 183,418.

Of new cases, 339 cases were recorded in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 190 in Lanarkshire and 159 in Lothian.

The remaining cases were recorded in the 9 other health board areas.

1,812 people are currently in hospital with covid which is a decrease of 53 from yesterday and 127 people are in intensive care- 4 fewer than yesterday.

The First Minister noted that we are starting to see ‘positive signs’ in the statistics these numbers ‘stabilise and decline.’

Sadly, 53 additional deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours of patients who first tested positive with the virus in the previous 28 days.

This takes the total number of coronavirus deaths under that daily measurement to 6,322.

The R number – which will be published today – will show that it is below one, the First Minister announced.

As of 8.30 am this morning, 694, 347 people in Scotland had received their first dose of the vaccine- an increase of 45, 085 since the figure reported yesterday – the highest daily total recorded so far, the third day of a record high daily total.

This week so far, 55% more people have been vaccinated in comparison to last week.

38% of the overall vaccinated number now includes 75-79 year olds who have received the first dose of the vaccination.

Now 98% of older residents in care homes and 89% working in these care homes, which Ms Sturgeon said were ‘quite extraordinary’ uptake numbers.

This Morning, at least 90% of those over 80 living in the community have been vaccinated, however, Ms Sturgeon said that research shows this percentage will be higher in reality.

Ms Sturgeon commented that the vaccination programme is ‘going well’ and thanked the public and vaccinators for their efforts.

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