First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that the current restrictions will remain in place across Scotland for a further three weeks, in line with the newest coronavirus data.
The First Minister made this announcement at her weekly Covid briefing to Scottish Parliament TV, as the decline in cases began to level off in Scotland.
In terms of statistics, 7,565 positive cases were reported yesterday through PCR and lateral flow tests. 1,177 people are in hospital with Covid – 30 fewer than yesterday.
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42 people are in intensive care - 3 fewer than yesterday. This includes 13 patients who have been in ICU for more than 28 days.
Sadly, a further 30 deaths have been reported, taking the total number of deaths under the daily definition to 10,341.
Nicola Sturgeon noted that due to the recent levelling off of case levels and the current pressure on the NHS, she will not be lifting any more restrictions as of February 1.
In her speech, Ms Sturgeon said: "This is why Cabinet took the decision this morning to retain for at least a further 3 weeks, the current baseline measures.
"These are the Covid certification scheme, and the following requirements: to collect customer contact details in settings such as hospitality; to wear face coverings in many indoor public places; and for businesses and service providers to have regard to guidance and take all reasonably practicable steps to minimise the incidence and spread of infection on their premises.
"We will also continue to ask the public to take lateral flow tests before mixing with people from other households.
"Complying with these basic protective measures will help, I hope, stem infections and therefore relieve pressure on the NHS while allowing us to live much more normally."
In Scotland over the last week, 24,595 positive PCR tests were reported across the country, with a weekly positivity rate of 450 per 100,000.
As for Edinburgh, 2,752 cases were reported, with a seven-day positivity rate of 521.6, 71.6 above the national average.
