Coronavirus in Scotland: A further 2,464 new Covid-19 cases reported on Sunday

Scotland has seen an increase of 2,464 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

This is higher than Saturday’s confirmed increase of 2,137 new cases.

The daily test positivity rate is now at 15.2% – up from 10.8% on Saturday.

No further deaths were recorded on Sunday as the register offices are closed over the public holidays.

The latest Covid-19 figures have been shared by the Scottish Government.

As of December 31, 4,578 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died.

Earlier on Sunday, Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is to meet on Monday to discuss further lockdown measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.

In a series of tweets, the First Minister said: “The rapid increase in Covid cases, driven by the new variant, is of very serious concern.

“The steep increases and severe NHS pressure being experienced in other parts of the UK is a sign of what may lie ahead. So we must take all steps to slow spread while vaccination progresses.

“We, like other countries, are in a race between this faster spreading strain of Covid and the vaccination programme.

“As we work to vaccinate as quickly as possible, we must also do more to slow down the virus – to save lives and help the NHS care for all those who need it.

“Following a meeting of the Scottish government resilience committee yesterday to assess latest situation, the Cabinet will meet tomorrow am to consider further action to limit spread and I’ve asked for Scottish Parliament to be recalled tomorrow afternoon so that I can set out our decisions in a statement.

“All decisions just now are tough, with tough impacts. Vaccines give us way out, but this new strain makes the period between now and then the most dangerous since start of pandemic.

“So the responsibility of government must be to act quickly and decisively in the national interest.”

This is just the fifth time Parliament has been recalled and the second time within the last four weeks.

Previously, it was convened after the deaths of Donald Dewar in October 2000 and the Queen Mother in April 2002.

It was also reconvened following the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi in 2009.

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