A further 159 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Scotland today.
At her briefing, Nicola Sturgeon highlighted the positivity rate is now consistently around 2%, compared to 1% a few weeks ago.
This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 21,878.
A total of 274 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case (up seven), with six being treated in intensive care (no change).
No deaths were registered in the last 24 hours of people who tested positive, meaning the total remains at 2,499.
There has also been positive cases in all mainland healthboards. The breakdown is as follows:
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde: 63
NHS Lothian: 29
NHS Lanarkshire: 19
NHS Forth Valley: 10
The remaining are spread across the other mainland health boards, meaning there has been a case in every mainland area for the second day in a row.
The average daily number of cases has now trebled, with 155 compared to 52 three weeks ago.
Furlough Scheme
Ms Sturgeon addressed the RBS publication on the jobs market in Scotland, which revealed recruitment declined last month, even after the steeper falls earlier in the pandemic.
Demand for permanent staff continues to decline in every sector of the economy apart from IT.
The first minister explained the report again underlines the extent of the economic crisis caused by Covid-19 and the need for exceptional support for businesses.
She called again for the UK job extension scheme to continue, because if it ends in October it will put many jobs at risk.
UK in a very “dangerous” place
Ms Sturgeon said Scotland is currently at a very dangerous point in tackling the pandemic.
The first minister warned that the current level of cases could translate into deaths if we are not very careful.
She warned that students coming back may be a welcome step, but it is also a risky development.
“That is why tomorrow’s review of the lockdown regulations is likely, based on all of the recent data, to take a very cautious approach to any further changes,” she added.
Changes similar to England’s new restrictions cannot be ruled out
Ms Sturgeon explained she cannot rule out changes to the rules about the number of people gathering together.
Her statement comes after it was announced last night that in England groups of no more than six were allowed to meet.
The first minister said the government is carefully reviewing the guidance and regulations, as well as considering what new steps may be necessary to keep Covid under control.
“All of us have a part to play in this,” she added.
No new care home deaths
Despite the rise in cases across Scotland, Ms Sturgeon said there have been no new care home deaths at all in the last week.
This is the first time this has happened since the pandemic began.
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