Yahoo News Scotland reports one COVID-19 death in 24 hours as Sturgeon warns lockdown rules could be tightened
Scotland has reported just one COVID-19 death in the past 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said on Monday.
At her daily coronavirus briefing, the first minister said a total of 2,363 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by one from 2,362 on Sunday.
Sturgeon said the statistics show “real progress” in controlling the spread of the virus, but warned that the situation in Scotland remains “fragile”.
Lockdown rules were eased slightly in Scotland on Friday, allowing people from different households to meet outdoors in groups no larger than eight within five miles of their homes.
The First Minister said the “vast majority” of people are following the new measures, but that traffic data indicates there were instances of people breaking the rules.
“In the last three days people have had long-awaited reunions with loved ones,” she said.
“I know that the vast majority of people stuck to the rules when having those reunions, however it’s also clear that over the weekend not everybody stuck to the rules.
“I’m told by police on Saturday alone there were 791 dispersals, that’s being being moved on for not complying with the rules.”
“It’s worth being clear, in fact I have a duty to be clear with you, that if there is continued evidence of even a minority not abiding by these guidelines and travelling unnecessarily, if people meet up in larger groups or if they’re making journeys which risk spreading this virus, we will have to put these restrictions on group size and travel distance into law.
“We won’t hesitate to do that if we think it’s necessary for the collective safety and wellbeing of the population.”
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The latest figures confirm a total of 2,363 people in Scotland have died from the virus a rise of one from Sunday.
The number of new cases rose by 18 to 15,418, and 1,046 people in Scotland are in hospital, which is 27 fewer than yesterday.
“That figure should be treated with some caution although deaths can be registered at weekends, figures can be relatively lower, especially on Sunday,” she said.
Her announcement comes as the country entered its first phase in its four-phase plan of easing the lockdown restrictions, imposed on the 23rd of March, on Friday.
Read more: Coronavirus lockdown 'very likely' to be extended further, Nicola Sturgeon says
People in Scotland are now able to meet friends and family again meaning that people from two households can meet outside so long as they keep at least two metres apart.
Groups of no more than eight should meet at a time, and you should not go into anyone else's house.
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Sturgeon cautioned that the virus has been suppressed, but it has not gone away and it is still “extremely dangerous” and called for people to stick to the new restrictions, to prevent a second wave of coronavirus.
Last week, she said lifting the lockdown will not be like “flipping a switch” but will instead be a gradual process.
