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Coronavirus in Scotland LIVE: The latest Covid-19 updates on Thursday, April 8
Scotland records one Covid death and 364 new cases
Scotland recorded one coronavirus patient death and 364 positive tests in the past 24 hours, the country’s national clinical director Jason Leitch has said.
It brings the death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 7,620.
Mr Leitch was speaking at a coronavirus briefing.
The figure is lower than the 9,997 deaths given earlier by the National Records of Scotland as they do not include suspected and probable coronavirus infections.
Latest NRS figures released
A total of 9,997 people have died in Scotland with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, according to the National Records of Scotland (NRS).
The figures show 38 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered between March 29 and April 4, down 24 on the previous week.
Of these, the majority happened in hospital at 29, with four in care homes and five at home or in a non-institutional setting.
The statistics are published weekly and cover all deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government because the NRS figures include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.
Pandemic has caused food insecurity to increase, research finds
The Covid-19 pandemic has increased food insecurity across the UK, according to a new report.
Research by the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), in partnership with Oxfam, found rising need has been driven mainly by a reduction in income and income crises – affecting mostly those who were already on low incomes but also introducing new people to the realities of life with little money.
Meanwhile the cost of living rose and travel restrictions made it difficult for people to access food banks and cheaper shops.
The report also highlights the impact of lockdown on food aid and their “wrap-around” services, such as mental health support and benefit advice which were suspended due to the pandemic.
It states: “While rising food insecurity meant a rise of demand for food aid, food banks were forced either to close or to reorganise their operation in order to comply with social distancing and lockdown rules.
“Covid-19 and its shielding requirements meant that the many volunteers over 70 years of age could no longer support the running of food banks. This vital human resource was lost at the height of the crisis when it was needed most.”
Coronavirus in Scotland: Jason Leitch seeks to reassure public AstraZeneca vaccine is safe after blood clot link
Coronavirus in Scotland: Jason Leitch seeks to reassure public AstraZeneca vaccine is safe after blood clot link
Scotland’s National Clinical Director has sought to reassure the public the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is safe after UK regulators said there is a possible link between the jab and “extremely rare” blood clots.
A total of 150,837 deaths have now occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the ONS said.
UK-made AstraZeneca vaccines ‘shipped to Australia’
More than 700,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine have been sent from the UK to Australia, according to reports.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock did not deny the reports in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age about the shipment, despite the UK facing a squeeze on vaccine supplies.
The move comes with the UK, Australia and the European Union embroiled in rows over the export of vaccines.
The Australian news outlets reported that 717,000 UK-made doses have been flown in to help Scott Morrison’s government’s vaccination programme.
The first 300,000 UK-made doses landed at Sydney Airport on February 28, with a further large delivery on an Emirates passenger plane in March.
Mr Hancock did not dispute the reports but told Sky News: “We have made sure that we can get the jabs that we need here and that’s why we have the fastest rollout.”
He added: “In terms of what the companies do, these companies are manufacturing for all around the world and we source from everywhere in the world, so what I’m in control of, what matters for us as the UK Government, is making sure that we get the supplies that we have got contracted from the companies.”
But he said the UK Government itself did not send the doses.
Matt Hancock and scientists seek to reassure public over AstraZeneca jab
Matt Hancock and chief scientists are seeking to maintain public confidence in the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after regulators pointed to a one in a million chance of dying from a rare blood clot.
The Health Secretary said everyone should take a vaccine when their time comes, and the risk of experiencing a brain clot was the same as “taking a long-haul flight”.
He urged the under-30s, who will be offered an alternative vaccine to AstraZeneca, to take a jab to protect loved ones and avoid the risk of long Covid, adding there were was “more than enough” Moderna and Pfizer for this age range.
In a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Hancock said vaccines are clearly breaking the link between Covid cases and deaths in the UK and were saving “thousands of lives”.
He told Sky News: “The number of people dying from Covid halved in the last nine days… and is down 90% from the peak.”
All vaccines in use in the UK were “safe for all ages”, but the “extremely rare” risk of suffering a rare brain blood clot, and the tipping of the balance of risk for the under-30s, means they could be given other jabs instead.
Asos sales soar 24% to nearly £2bn during latest lockdowns
Online fashion giant Asos has revealed that sales soared during the latest Covid-19 lockdown as high street stores remained closed.
Revenues at the retailer jumped 24% to £1.98 billion in the six months to the end of February, with pre-tax profits up 253% to £106.4 million.
The business said it benefited particularly from strong UK sales during the period – which covered the second English lockdown in November, the subsequent tiering and eventual third lockdown.
High street fashion rivals have been unable to open their doors throughout 2021 so far, but will be allowed to welcome back customers from next Monday.
In the UK, Asos sales were up 39% to £800.4 million, compared with 18% in the EU, 16% in the US and 16% in the rest of the world.
It said: “Overall we saw a net Covid-19 tailwind of £48.5 million – a benefit which we expect to reverse once we see restrictions lifted on the hospitality and tourism sectors.”
Matt Hancock insists Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe
Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe for all ages.
He told Sky News: “All three vaccines that are in use in the UK are safe and they’re safe at all ages, but there’s a preference for the under-30s, if they want to have the Pfizer or Moderna jab, then they can.”
AstraZeneca: Possible delay to Scotland's Covid-19 vaccine programme as under 30s offered alternative
AstraZeneca: Possible delay to Scotland's Covid-19 vaccine programme as under 30s offered alternative
The Scottish Government is considering delays to the Covid-19 vaccination programme after a decision to offer under 30s an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine over a possible link to “extremely rare” blood clots.