The BBC has reported that eight cluster cases of the virus are thought to be among 14 new cases reported in the Greater Glasgow health board area.

A total 118 people from the Inverclyde council area have succumbed to the virus, and the district has the worst death rate in Scotland at 15 per 10,000 people.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde told the BBC that none of the cases were experiencing anything but mild symptoms.

A microbiologist with a tube containing a sample contaminated with Covid-19. Pic: angellodeco-shutterstock

It added: "Close contacts are being advised to self-isolate and other identified contacts are being followed up and given appropriate advice."

The first minister said an incident management team was meeting to discuss the development.

The cases were among 22 reported across Scotland in the last 24 hours.

Nicola Sturgeon has said previously that localised outbreaks of the virus are all but inevitable, following clusters in North Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

But the first minister said the "test and protect" system was working well, with the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 remaining low.

News of the cluster came as the National Records of Scotland said the number of deaths linked to coronavirus had increased very slightly, with Covid-19 mentioned on eight death certificates in the week to Sunday July 26.

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Coronavirus in Scotland: Pharmacy linked to Covid-19 cluster in Inverclyde