Covid in Scotland: Pandemic 'stable' as 1,115 test positive

The Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland is "stable", according to a leading public health expert, as another 1,115 people tested positive for the virus in Scotland.

Three confirmed Covid deaths were registered on Saturday, a significant fall on the 39 recorded on Friday.

However, the number of deaths is usually lower at weekend as register offices are generally closed.

Prof Linda Bauld said restrictions were affecting the growth of the virus.

The latest government statistics show that, of 17,229 new tests that were carried out, 7.3% were positive.

There were 1,245 Covid patients in hospital - the same number as on Saturday - and the number of people in intensive care rose from 106 to 111.

"What we are seeing today and over recent days is the pandemic is stable really in Scotland, Prof Bauld told BBC Scotland.

"We are not seeing huge rises in the number of cases."

She said there was a spike of about 1,500 positive cases reported on Saturday, but numbers were lower in the early part of the week.

"We are definitely not seeing the pandemic growing in the way it might have been doing if we weren't living under the current restrictions," she added.

It is almost a week since the latest regional restrictions came into force across Scotland and they are due to be reviewed on Tuesday.

Prof Bauld said there was evidence showing that the number of contacts people are reporting to Test and Protect is reducing, as they comply with restrictions.

She said people's contacts had reduced by 14% in the last two weeks and by 30% since August.

But she believes it is unlikely that the restrictions will change much when they come under review this week.

"My own personal view is that we need a little bit longer to see the full effects of the current system and so I'd be very surprised if we saw much movement at the moment," she said.

The latest Scottish government statistics also show: