Scotland's Covid death toll falls for seventh week in a row as First Minister anticipates move to next phase
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed new National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures which show the number of Covid-19 related deaths has fallen for the seventh week in a row.
Just 70 more deaths from either confirmed or suspected Covid-19 were registered across the country in the seven days up to Sunday while there were no new deaths in the Highlands.
The First Minister has already suggested she will signal a staggered move into phase two of the route map out of lockdown this week.
"The latest NRS report covers the period to Sunday, June 14 and at that point, according to our daily figures, 2848 deaths of people who tested positive for the virus have been registered," she said.
"Today's report showed that by Sunday the total number of registered deaths with either a confirmed or presumed link to the virus was 4070. Of those 70 were registered in the seven days up to Sunday.
"That is a decrease of 19 from the week before and this is the seventh week in a row in which the number of deaths from the virus has fallen.
"Deaths in care homes made up 50 per cent of all deaths linked to the virus last week, however the number of Covid-19 deaths in care homes reduced again, from 42 to 35.
"Tomorrow I expect to confirm that we can move from phase one to phase two of our plan to emerge from lockdown and I will set out much more detail about that tomorrow.
"However, we will continue to move in a cautious and phased way, because the more we hammer this down now the more normality we can ultimately get back in all aspects of our life."
On the test and protect system she said: "Health Protection Scotland has just published data on that system and it shows that since May 28 a total of 992 cases were reported in which the individual tested positive.
"Contact tracing has already been completed for 891 of those and is ongoing in others.
"In total, 1239 contacts have been traced so far – and I would remind everyone watching that, if you have symptoms of Covid-19, you should book a test immediately and follow the advice on self-isolation."
Related article: No new Covid-19 deaths registered in Highlands in the last week
