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In Scotland there have been seven more deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus, the highest daily total since June 17.
Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the deaths were a “very sharp reminder” that Covid is “extremely dangerous.”
640 new positive test results were also reported, and 137 people received treatment at the hospital.
The total number of people who died in Scotland within 28 days of testing positive is now 2,519.
But Scotland’s National Registries say the virus has been mentioned as a contributing factor or suspected cause of death on 4,257 death certificates.
- Live: the latest on the coronavirus in Scotland
New restrictions have been imposed across the UK in recent weeks in response to the sharp increase in coronavirus cases.
The Scottish government has said it is considering imposing a so-called circuit breaker lockout in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.
The move could see the country go back into strict lockdown for a period of two to three weeks, although a decision has yet to be made on when, or if, it should be introduced.
The seven deaths that Ms Sturgeon announced in her daily briefing were the highest total in more than three months, and the prime minister said this was “a very sharp reminder that Covid is an extremely dangerous and highly infectious virus.” .
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Scottish government
The seven deaths were the most announced by Ms. Sturgeon in her daily briefing since June 17.
He said more deaths were “a consequence of the virus getting out of control” but said “they were not inevitable” if people stick to the restrictions.
Sturgeon said: “As night continues to day, if we allow infections to continue to increase, they will shift from younger people to older people, people in the most vulnerable older groups will get sick, they will be placed in intensive care and they will die.
“That’s the path this virus will take if we don’t get in its way and interrupt it.
“We can interrupt it, we interrupt it in the summer and we can do it again, but it means that we will all follow the rules.”
Sturgeon spoke after the National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch, told Holyrood’s Covid-19 committee that a circuit breaker lockout could be part of the answer to address the resurgence of cases in Scotland.
But he said there was a “difficult balance” in considering whether such a measure should be recommended.
‘Implications for schools’
Professor Leitch said: “Some modelers suggest you should do it repeatedly, so you would do it for two weeks, open for a period, then two weeks again.
“But that has implications for the economy, implications for society, implications for schools.
“So it’s a very difficult balance of whether we think this iconic new measure would be something that we would recommend for Scotland.”
Deputy Prime Minister John Swinney told the committee that “detailed work” was underway on the possibility, but no decision has been made on whether to introduce the measure.
Swinney said closing a circuit breaker may or may not lead to schools being ordered closed, but added: “Frankly, the last thing I want to have to do is close schools.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish government has announced the launch of a new £ 500 grant for low-income people who are being asked to self-isolate.
The Self Isolation Support Grant is designed to help those who would lose income if advised to stay home and will be open for applications beginning October 12.
It is aimed at people who receive Universal Credit or who have financial difficulties and will be administered by the municipalities.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said that while self-isolation “can be difficult,” it is “essential to protect people and reduce the spread of the coronavirus.”
He added: “We want to do everything we can to support people during this challenging time and these payments will help ensure that people do not have to choose between isolating themselves and supporting themselves financially.”
