Scotland's Covid-19 coronavirus death toll rises 70; news comes as number of positive tests in NHS Highland area rises above 200

ANOTHER 70 people have died from the coronavirus in Scotland – and a further 222 have tested positive for the disease.

Some 8672 people have now been confirmed as having contracted the virus, and 985 hospital patients who have tested positive for the virus have died.

The news comes as three more people were confirmed as having the virus in the NHS Highland area - taking the region's number of cases past the 200 mark to 201.

Ten more people are also receiving hospital treatment for confirmed or suspected coronavirus, taking the total to 68. Five of those were in intensive care last night.

Elsewhere in the north, NHS Grampian recorded a further 29 cases, taking its total to 519. There were also 91 people in hospital (up from 84 yesterday). An additional person was also receiving treatment in intensive care (up to 10 from nine).

Orkney and Eileanan Siar reported no new cases overnight, but Shetland's tally rose one to 52. Six people were also receiving treatment in hospital.

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