Covid in Scotland: 39 more deaths registered as cases rise
Getty ImagesThe deaths of 39 people with Covid-19 were registered in Scotland on Friday, as the number of people testing positive for the virus rose sharply.
Official statistics show 1,596 people received a positive test - an increase of 48.9% on Thursday - but the number of tests carried out hit a new high,
It came as a ban on visitors from Denmark to Scotland came into effect amid concerns about a new Covid strain.
And NHS Grampian reported an outbreak at a Peterhead fish processing plant.
- Of the 1,245 people in hospital on Friday who had recently tested positive for the virus, 106 were in intensive care - a slight increase on Thursday
- There were 29,644 new tests carried out for the virus - a record high - with 6.3% of them returning positive results
- A total of 460 new cases were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 210 in Lanarkshire, and 112 in Lothian
- There were no new cases in Orkney, Shetland or the Western Isles
However, the Scottish government's deputy clinical director John Harden said he would be inclined to say the higher number of cases recorded on Saturday "may well be a blip in a generally improving trend".
Fears over mink Covid strain from Denmark
Getty ImagesThe ban on visitors from Denmark to Scotland came into effect over concern about a new coronavirus strain that has spread from mink to humans.
Now, only UK nationals or residents will be allowed back into the country from Denmark - and they and their entire household will have to isolate for 14 days. There will be no exemptions to the quarantine requirements.
And anyone who has arrived in the country from Denmark in the last 14 days will be contacted and told to self-isolate with their household.
The change in policy followed guidance that public health measures should be strengthened after concern was raised that genetic changes in the strain could undermine the effectiveness of future Covid-19 vaccines.
The decision followed talks between the four UK nations on Friday.
The enhanced requirements came into force at 04:00 on Saturday. They were announced shortly after 02:00 - less than two hours before they took effect - by the UK government's transport secretary.
Ministers say that the decision not to permit entry of visitors from Denmark will be reviewed after a week.
On Saturday, Nicola Sturgeon said the "new strain of Covid that has come from mink in Denmark is causing concern".
She emphasised the importance of those returning from the country to strictly follow the quarantine rules.
Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith added that it was "imperative" these measures are adhered to.
"We do not want to see transmission of this strain in this country," he added.
A spokeswoman from the UK government's Department for Transport said in a statement: "Unlike other travel to the UK, there will be no exemptions to this quarantine policy.
"Anyone who has returned from Denmark within the last two weeks will be contacted to ensure they complete the self-isolation needed to ensure the virus does not spread across the UK.
"The UK government is working closely with international partners to understand the changes in the virus that have been reported in Denmark and we are conducting a programme of further research here in the UK to inform our risk assessments."
Loganair said that due to government restrictions it has suspended flights between Scotland and Denmark from 9 to 22 November.
What's going on in Denmark?
ReutersA mutated strain of coronavirus that has spread to humans has triggered culls of millions of mink across Denmark and a lockdown in some parts of the country.
More than 200 people have been infected with strains related to mink, according to reports.
The Danish authorities have described the situation as very serious - and have ordered the cull of all mink in the country - thought to number around 17 million.
GoogleMeanwhile in Aberdeenshire, NHS Grampian has said it is aware of reported cases of coronavirus at a fish processing plant.
A spokesman said the board's health protection team was working with Seafood Ecosse in Peterhead.
Seafood Ecosse has not responded to BBC Scotland's request for comment.
In other developments a new walk-through coronavirus testing centre opened in Edinburgh.
The site, at Leith library and registry office, is the 13th walk-through site to open in Scotland. It is part of the UK government's testing network, which also includes six drive-through testing sites.
