No newly-confirmed cases of coronavirus in NHS Highland for third day in a row; Covid-19 tally stays at 331, although real total is believed to be higher; latest developments come as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Government announce plans to publish 'road map' for future easing of pandemic lockdown restrictions
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NO new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Highlands for the third day in a row.
The total number of coronavirus tests which came back positive in the NHS Highland area remained at 331.
And there was no change in the number of hospital cases either, with six people being treated in the region's hospitals for suspected or confirmed Covid-19 at midnight.
News of the third day without recorded cases, came as the Scotland-wide figure rose just 57 to 14,597, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to publish a 'road map' for easing lockdown restrictions later in the month – subject to the pandemic spike continuing to decline.
Only two further fatalities were registered in the past 24 hours, although officials have cautioned that this small rise could be linked to normal under-reporting at the weekend.
Some 2105 people who have tested positiver for the virus have passed away in Scotland since the outbreak began.
Although the amount of new positive tests was low the number of people being treated in Scotland's hospitals rose. There were 1447 people being treated for confirmed or suspected Covid-19 last night – up from 1308 the previous day. The number of those in intensive care also rose slightly, from 59 to 63.
Across the north of Scotland, there were no fresh cases in Eileanan Siar, Shetland or Orkney.
NHS Grampian, meanwhile, registered 11 new cases to take its tally to 1200 exactly. There were 88 people in its hospitals with the virus, of whom seven were in intensive care.
There were also only four new cases in NHS Tayside, which now stands at 1593. Its number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients remained static at 23.
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