Seven new positive tests for coronavirus reported in NHS Highland region; Scotland reported 383 fresh diagnoses for Covid-19 in the past day; rises came as the Scottish Government's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon prepared to give a statement at Holyrood announcing new restrictions to tackle the spread of the virus, and shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled measures for England

SEVEN new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in the NHS Highland area in the past day.

The cumulative number of positive tests recorded in the region since the start of the pandemic rose from 559 to 566 when the latest daily update was published at 2pm.

Across Scotland some 383 new cases were reported in the past day – or 7.6 per cent of all those who were tested for the virus in that period.

Both figures were up noticeably from Monday, when there were 255 new cases – representing 6.3 per cent of newly-tested people.

The number of people in hospital remained unchanged at 73, but there were 10 patients in intensive care with recently-confirmed Covid-19 – up two from Monday.

And, sadly, one more person has passed away after previously testing positive for Covid-19.

Elsewhere in the north of Scotland, NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney and NHS Eileanan Siar reported no new infections in the past 24 hours.

There were seven new positive tests in NHS Grampian, which has now registered 2121 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

And NHS Tayside also registered seven fresh cases, for an overall tally of 2280.

The figures came as Scotland awaited a statement from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is expected to announce new restrictions to try to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier outlined changes to restrictions in England , which included the closing of pubs at 10pm.

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