Covid Scotland RECAP: Nicola Sturgeon tells Scots to remain vigilant despite decline in cases | Scottish Government urges JCVI not to rule out vaccinating teenagers | Latest figures for Scotland show 13 coronavirus deaths | Dominic Cummings to give tell-all interview
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Covid Scotland: The latest pandemic updates on Tuesday, July 20
Key Events
- Scotland records 13 Covid deaths and 1,604 positive cases
- Children over 12 at increased risk from Covid to be vaccinated
- Level 0 restrictions in Scotland explained
Nicola Sturgeon says although case numbers remain high they are “very much right now on a downward path”.
13 coronavirus deaths and 1,604 new cases
Scotland has recorded 13 coronavirus deaths and 1,604 new cases in the past 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said.
It means the death toll under this daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – stands at 7,813.
Speaking during a Scottish Government briefing, Ms Sturgeon said 332,455 people have now tested positive for the virus and the daily test positivity rate is 9.2%, down from 10.3% the previous day.
A total of 529 people were in hospital on Monday with recently confirmed Covid-19, down seven, with 47 patients in intensive care, up two.
So far, 3,984,433 people have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination, up 2,483 on the previous day, and 2,995,086 have received their second dose, an increase of 16,340.
Nicola Sturgeon: “1,604 positive cases were reported yesterday - 9.2% of all of tests carried out. That takes the total number of confirmed cases now to 332,455. There are 529 people receiving hospital treatment - which is 7 fewer than yesterday.”
More than one million children in England were out of school last week due to Covid-19 related reasons, Government figures show.
Scottish Government still to make vaccine passports decision as England rollout begins
A decision on whether or not to introduce vaccine passports has yet to be made by the Scottish Government, a Holyrood adviser has said, as the UK Government announced their rollout south of the border.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will hold a coronavirus briefing at 12.15pm with deputy chief medical officer Dr Nicola Steedman.
Online grocery sales fall for first time on record following Covid surge
The number of shoppers buying groceries online fell for the first time ever as the peak of home deliveries during the height of the pandemic eased, according to new data.
Online orders fell 81,000 in July compared with the same four weeks a year ago, data firm Kantar found, and digital baskets shrank 8% to £80 a shop – the lowest level since February 2020.
Supermarkets also failed to fully benefit from the football fever of the Euro 2020 tournament, with shoppers preferring to watch games in pubs and bars instead of at home, according to the figures.
As a result, take-home sales of alcohol over the four weeks to mid-July fell 3% compared with a month earlier, Kantar said.
People should make ‘informed decision’ if pinged by Covid app, minister says
People should not automatically self-isolate if they are “pinged” by the NHS Covid-19 app but should instead make an “informed decision” about what to do, a Government minister suggested.
In response to mounting concern about the impact of the “pingdemic” on businesses, the Government appeared to soften its line on self-isolation for those told to quarantine by the app.
Business minister Paul Scully said self-isolating after being told to by the app was a decision for individuals and employers.
Although it has never been a legal requirement to obey the app’s instructions, the official NHS guidance has been that people should “self-isolate immediately” when told to.
Mr Scully told Times Radio: “It’s important to understand the rules. You have to legally isolate if you are on the… contacted by Test and Trace, or if you’re trying to claim isolation payments.
“The app is there to give… to allow you to make informed decisions. And I think by backing out of mandating a lot of things, we’re encouraging people to really get the data in their own hands to be able to make decisions on what’s best for them, whether they’re employer or an employee.”