So we have to be careful - and that has always been the way with this virus - not to do too much all at once. That is one reason to be cautious, but we have also seen over the past week or so some easing of restrictions, so last week we saw the re-opening of hairdressers and some retail outlets.Īnd, of course, over this week and next week, there will be a much more significant change as all secondary schools return full time. Here in Scotland for the last few weeks - and this was a concern for a period - we’ve had rates of infection that were a bit higher than in some other parts of the UK - though as I have just said, we are now starting to see case numbers falling more markedly and more consistently. We can see why we still need to be cautions by looking quickly around many other countries across Europe and the world. So all of that is really good progress, but that said - and you would expect me to say this - we do still need to be cautious. We've also seen the number of people in hospital and intensive care continue to reduce and thankfully the number of deaths has fallen sharply as well. In fact, it is a decline of more than 85% since early January.Īnd a fall of well over 40% just in the last two weeks. The figures we are seeing now represent the lowest level since late September last year. ![]() We are now recording fewer than 300 a day. To put the reduction we are now seeing into some context, in early January we were recording more than 2,000 new cases, on average, every day in Scotland. That is partly due to the success of the vaccination programme.īut it is also, and we shouldn't loose sight of this, because so many people have stuck so well to the all of the really difficult rules over past month. We have also made significant progress in reducing the number of new Covid cases that we are seeing now reported in Scotland. Significantly, these groups account for 99% of all Covid related deaths, so that is quite a significant milestone. Overall, we have now given a first dose to almost 60% of the whole adult population.Īnd we have effectively met our target of offering a first dose by the middle of this month to everyone over 50 year olds all unpaid carers and all adults with particular underlying health conditions. So now virtually all over 60 year olds have now received a first dose of the vaccine. In addition to that, 14,952 people received their second dose yesterday, that brings the total number of second doses to 605,126. That is an increase of 13,983 since yesterday. Let me also give a quick update on the latest vaccination figures.Īs of 7.30 this morning, 2,682,706 people have received their first dose of the vaccine. Unfortunately 3 further deaths were reported yesterday, and that takes the total number of deaths registered, under that daily definition, to 7,633.Īnd once again, I want to send my condolences to all those who have lost a loved one. That's 1.6% of the total number of tests, and takes the overall number of confirmed cases in Scotland to 222,382.ġ33 people are currently in hospital – that is 21 less than yesterday.Ģ0 people are in intensive care, which is a reduction of 1 from yesterday. ![]() The total number of positive cases that were reported yesterday was 221. The purpose of today’s briefing is to report progress on a number of matters, but also to advise you of a change - I hope, a positive change - to the planned easing of lockdown restrictions in relation to travel and to outdoor meetings and I'll come back to that later.įirstly, though, I will report on today’s Covid statistics. I am joined by the Chief Medical Officer who will help me answer questions in a few moments.
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