The total number of coronavirus cases in Scotland has reached 3,961 as a further 18 cases have been confirmed in the north and north-east in the past 24 hours.
However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in her daily briefing today that this would not be a “true figure” and would be “artificially low” as officials change the way deaths are reported.
Work is currently being done to make the National Registers of Scotland (NRS) death reporting service one that works seven days a week, so Ms Sturgeon said more deaths were expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
Ms Sturgeon said the figures would be “reconciled” on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, along with an NRS report on Covid-19 deaths in the community.
There are 15 new cases in Grampian, taking its total to 209, while the Highlands’ total has risen by three to 102.
Shetland, Orkney or the Western Isles have had no new cases in the last day.
Update on #coronavirus testing
As of 2pm today 24,036 Scottish tests have concluded
20,075 confirmed negative
3,961 positive222 patients who tested positive have sadly died.
Our latest update ➡️ https://t.co/kZjGNz2EDe
Health advice ➡️ https://t.co/l7rqArB6Qu#COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/7Q5Nlt7qWy— Scottish Government (@scotgov) April 6, 2020
There are 41 cases in total on Shetland while Orkney and the Western Isles have four each.
The statistics were published after Nicola Sturgeon held her daily briefing on how Scotland is handling the pandemic.
Ms Sturgeon acknowledged it had been a “difficult 24 hours for the government” after the resignation of former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood over two trips she made to her second home in Fife – ignoring her own guidance aimed at tackling Covid-19.
Dr Gregor Smith, who acted as Dr Calderwood’s deputy, will be taking over as interim chief medical officer for the foreseeable future.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Scotland has by 255 from 3,706 to 3,961.
