First Minister reveals almost 700 cases reported through coronavirus Test and Protect system
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the Test and Protect system has so far detected hundreds of new Covid-19 cases across Scotland.
At the Scottish Parliament today she said Health Protection Scotland has published "some very initial data" on Test and Protect that will become more detailed over time.
She said: "However today's figures will show that between May 28, when the system launched, and June 7 a total of 681 cases were reported where the individual tested positive for Covid-19.
"Contact tracing has already been completed for 481 cases and will be ongoing in others and, in total, 741 contacts have so far been traced.”
Scotland has seen its seven day death toll fall for a sixth week, despite the number of people dying from the virus now hitting the 4000 mark.
“Deaths in care homes made up 47 per cent of all deaths linked to the virus last week, which is down from 53 per cent in the previous week, and the number of Covid-19 deaths in care homes also reduced again from 69 to 42," the First Minister said.
“Now all of those figures – especially that total of 4000 – are far higher than any of us would wish, however, the weekly number of Covid-19 deaths has now fallen for six weeks in a row.
“Today's figures are less than one seventh of their peak level, excess deaths are at less than one twentieth of their peak level and deaths in care homes are also now falling.
“That progress is significant but we must take great care now to ensure that, if it is sustained, I hope that in the next week we will be able to announce some further, albeit careful, changes to lockdown measures."
