A further 18 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ayrshire and Arran, in the past 24 hours.

A total of 604 individuals are now confirmed to have the virus in the region - more specific locations are not released by the government due to patient confidentiality.

There are 129 patients being treated in NHS Ayrshire and Arran hospitals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, an increase of 7 since yesterday, and 11 in ICU, an increase of 1.

At today's Scottish Government coronavirus press briefing, the First Minister said she would lay out some information about what factors would inform an exit from restriction measures later this week.

She said: "I will not rush to do anything that could risk a resurgence of the virus.

"Living with this virus, as we will need to learn to do, will mean some restrictions on everyday life for some time to come."

Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith revealed that Accident and Emergency departments across Scotland had seen a 54 per cent drop in attendances on average.

He also said that the average number of suspected cancer referrals has reduced by 72 per cent.

Dr Smith said: "Please don't delay unecessarily, your NHS remains here for you.

"Please seek attention and help where you need it.

Dr Smith said that the NHS normally receives 2,700 suspected cancer referrals from GPs a week, but last week there were only 744.

The week before that, 948 were received.

He said: "Overtime, there has been a worrying reduction in referrals.

"When I speak to GPs on the ground they say people are just not approaching practices now.

"Please do not sit on these symptoms, if it was urgent before COVID-19 came along it’s urgent now."

In the last 24 hours, 12 deaths have been registered of patients confirmed with COVID-19 across Scotland.

This brings the deathtoll from confirmed coronavirus cases to 915.

A further 263 patients have tested positive, bringing the total to 8,450.

In Scottish hospitals, 1,808 are being treated with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, with 169 in ICUs.

***************

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We’re not exaggerating when we say that the future of this paper, and the vital local news service we’ve provided for over a century, is under threat.

Please consider supporting our work in whatever way you can – by paying just 90p for a copy of the paper, when you’re shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others, or by subscribing to our e-edition available in the menu above.

Thanks – and stay safe.