Scotland sees the biggest jump in weekly cases since May with almost 1,000 testing positive

A total of 994 people tested positive for the disease in the last seven days, almost double the 507 new cases in the week before.

Almost a thousand people tested positive for coronavirus this week, the highest weekly increase in cases since May.

A total of 994 people tested positive for the disease in the last seven days, almost double the 507 new cases in the week before.

The number of new cases in a weekly period fell to just 50 new cases in the first seven days of July, but have increased nearly every week.

Members of the public get tested for Covid-19 at a coronavirus mobile testing centre in West Dunbartonshire on September 3 in Dumbarton, Scotland.

The last time weekly cases exceeded the current total was May 17, although there have been changes to the Government's reporting of figures since then, including incorporating the results of home testing kits from July.

Confirmed coronavirus cases have risen by 141 in the past 24 hours, according to the Scottish Government, but no new deaths have been recorded.

The number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 now stands at 21,189 and the number of infected patients who have died remains at 2,496.

According to the Government's latest figures, 68 of the positive tests were from the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

NHS Lanarkshire has recorded another 20 cases - an increase on the 16 announced on Friday when it warned the region was close to having to reintroduce restrictions, similar to those imposed on other parts of western Scotland.

NHS Grampian, where the Aberdeen bar cluster was identified last month, has recorded an increase of just two new cases.

A total of seven cases have been discovered in Ayrshire and Arran, 14 in the Forth Valley, six in the Highlands, eight in Tayside and 14 by NHS Lothian.

A single new case was identified by both NHS Borders and NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

The number of tests carried out fell to 15,618, the lowest total since August 24, according to the latest Government figures.

As of Friday night, two people were in intensive care with coronavirus and a further 251 infected people were in hospital, although that figure includes patients who may not be receiving treatment for the disease.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director