THREE new walk-in Covid testing centres will be opening in Scotland this week, John Swinney has announced.
One opened in Paisley on Tuesday, the Deputy First Minister said, with further sites opening in Dunfermline and Glenrothes later on Thursday.
He said that each of these new centres would be able to do up to 300 Covid-19 tests a day and take the total number of walk in centres to 28.
“They will help to increase the accessibility and effectiveness of testing,” Swinney added.
Swinney, giving the regular Covid-19 briefing, stressed while infection numbers remained high, the lockdown restrictions were “vital”.
He said: “They are the single most important way in which we can reduce case numbers and ease some of the pressure on our health and social care services.”
It comes as another 89 people died in Scotland after contracting the virus.
READ MORE: Another 89 people die in Scotland after contracting Covid-19
The latest daily toll accounts for people who had tested positive in the previous 28 days. A total of 5468 deaths have now been recorded under that measurement.
A further 1636 cases were also recorded in the previous 24 hours, with a positivity rate of 7%.
Some 2004 people are in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, one more than yesterday.
Swinney also announced more support for childminders – many of whom have been seen their businesses suffer as a result of coronavirus restrictions.
He said up to £1 million of Scottish Government cash was being used to help those who have been financially affected.
Swinney said further information on how to apply for this help would be published soon but added that childminders would be able to apply for grants of up to £1000 each.
He said: “Childminders play a hugely important role and the work they do is valued and appreciated by families across the country.
“This new fund will provide them with some of the support they need in order to continue to carry out that role. That is something that will be increasingly important as we emerge from lockdown and as more parents return to work.”
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