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The Scottish First Minister’s comments come after the latest COVID-19 figures for Scotland show three more confirmed coronavirus patients have died, bringing the total number of deaths from the invisible killer disease to 2,505. A total of 24,126 people have tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of 350 from the day before.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted about the “serious situation across the UK” saying: “There will always be fluctuations in daily figures – that’s why we look at 7 day averages to balance out variations in testing etc. Even with that caveat though, today’s report underlines fact that COVID is rising.

“@scotgov is considering over w/e what further action is needed. Given serious situation across UK, I have also asked again that a 4 nations COBR meeting takes place over next 48 hours. While each of the 4 UK nations will reach our own decisions – rightly and properly – it makes sense to seek as much co-ordination and alignment as possible

“We know from experience earlier in the year that speed and decisiveness of action is important in the fight against COVID, so @scotgov will seek to reach considered decisions as quickly as possible, and I will update as usual through my daily briefings.

“In meantime, I ask everyone across Scotland to be extra careful. Minimise interactions with other households and keep to a maximum of 6 people from 2 households (if in Glasgow, E/W Dunbartonshire, E/Renfrewshire and N/S Lanarkshire please don’t visit other households at all)

“In the interactions you do have, please follow all the FACTS advice. And please download http://protect.scot. Thank you.”

It comes just one day after Ms Sturgeon warned “hard but necessary” decisions may be needed in the coming days to prevent another national lockdown.

The First Minister said coronavirus “could get out of our grip again” as Scotland faces the risk of “exponential growth” of COVID-19.

She said this weekend will be “critical” to how the Government plots a way forward, and added she wanted to give the nation “advanced notice” that the “coming days are likely to see some hard but necessary decisions”.

Students at St Andrews University were asked on Friday night to enter a voluntary weekend lockdown, to help avoid another national lockdown.

St Andrews principal Professor Sally Mapstone urged all students to remain in their rooms as much as possible from 7pm on Friday.

In a message to students, Professor Mapstone said: “It is now very clear that rates of Covid infection are surging again in various parts of this country, and it is very likely that we are very close to a form of further national lockdown.

“The First Minister of Scotland has today spoken of the urgent need to interrupt the chain of transmission of the virus.

“In these circumstances, I am writing to all of our students to ask you to please observe a voluntary lockdown this weekend, effective from 7pm this evening.”

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