NHS Highland area records two new coronavirus cases, but patients needing treatment for Covid-19 in the region's hospitals falls to six according to new Scottish Government figures

ONLY six Highlanders were in hospital receiving treatment for Covid-19 last night.

The news came as the Scottish Government provided its daily update over coronavirus infections across the country.

The NHS Highland area reported two new cases of the virus in the past 24 hours – to take the region's tally to 324 since records began.

But the number of people receiving hospital treatment for suspected or confirmed Covid-19 fell from nine to six over the same period.

Across Scotland as a whole, there were 136 newly-confirmed cases of coronavirus, taking the overall total to 13,763.

There were 50 further deaths among people who had tested positive for the illness ­– or 1912 since the outbreak began.

The number of people receiving treatment in Scottish hospitals for confirmed Covid-19 fell slightly to 1131, but when suspected cases were added to that total the country reported an increase from 1453 to 1618 in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, in the far north, Eileanan Siar, Orkney, and Shetland's recent run of days without newly confirmed cases continued.

NHS Grampian recorded 24 new cases, to pass the 1100 mark at 1102. However the number of hospital patients with Covid-19 remained static at 99 – as too did the number of those in intensive care (11).

NHS Tayside passed the 1500 mark after an increase from 1497 to 1505, but its number of coronavirus hospital patients fell from 37 to 29, and fewer than five of those were receiving intensive treatment.

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