Latest coronavirus figures: Covid cases in NHS Highland area still low after lockdown announcement
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The rate of coronavirus in the NHS Highland area remained relatively low the day after the First Minister's announcement that the area would be put into tier four restrictions from Boxing Day.
Sunday's figures showed that 22 new cases of Covid-19 had been reported in the region over the previous 24 hours.
The Highland area has now seen 1772 confirmed cases since the pandemic began, and the latest seven-day rate per 100,000 population was just 39.5. This compares to 125.4 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde where the most cases were again recorded today.
Across Scotland, 934 new coronavirus cases were reported, but the dramatic increase from the 572 recorded yesterday was put down to issues with data transfer from NHS Grampian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde labs over the weekend.
The new near-national lockdown – with all but the islands being put into tier four after Christmas – came as it emerged a new strain of the virus was spreading faster than the previously known version, though there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccines developed so far would not be effective against it.
Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday that Scotland could still act in a preventative manner against the new strain, which has been seen in 17 cases in the country so far.
"There is strong evidence that the new strain is spreading substantially and significantly more quickly than the strains of the virus we have seen up until now," she said.
"That evidence suggests that it could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than previous strains of the virus.
"But if we do act now then we do have a chance of keeping things under control while the vaccine programme makes progress."
Tier four restrictions will see non-essential retail, hospitality and leisure services closed down or reduced to very limited trading such as takeaways and click and collect.
Schools will also go back later after the Christmas holidays, with online learning up to at least January 18 for most pupils.
Sunday's figures also revealed 128 new cases in neighbouring NHS Grampian, while the Western Isles had one new case. Shetland and Orkney again recorded no new cases.
Nationally, there were three further deaths of people who have recently tested positive to Covid-19.
