Six new Covid-19 cases recorded in the Highlands, but hospital patient numbers fall slightly; news comes as confirmed coronavirus infections in Scotland passes 10,000

SIX new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Highlands ­– taking the region's tally to 220 since the outbreak began.

But there was better news in the region's hospitals, where the number of patients receiving treatment for suspected or confirmed Covid-19 fell once again, down three to 52.

The figures came against a backdrop of 354 new cases across Scotland, taking the country's total number of confirmed infections beyond the 10,000 mark to 10,051. The true number of infections is believed to be much higher.

There were 47 further deaths among confirmed Covid-19 cases, taking the official toll to 1231.

The number being treated in Scotland's hospitals also rose slightly – up 38 to 1748, bucking recent falls. But those receiving intensive care was down one to 140 last night.

Elsewhere in the north of Scotland, Shetland and Eileanan Siar recorded no new cases of the coronavirus, but there was one new diagnosis in Orkney, which now has seven.

There were also 62 new cases confirmed in Grampian, taking its total number of infections to 700, although its number of Covid-19 patients receiving hospital treatment fell slightly – down two to 98.

NHS Tayside, meanwhile, recorded 25 newly-confirmed cases of the virus, taking its tally to 1224, while those receiving hospital treatment was up from 78 to 92.

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