0.3% of kids tested for virus last week were positive

Just 0.3% of children who were tested for coronavirus in Scotland last week were positive.

The first minister has revealed that there has been an eightfold increase in people between the ages of two and 17 getting checked for Covid-19 since the middle of July.

Last week - the first full week since schools returned - almost 17,500 kids got tested, but just 49 of them tested positive.

Nicola Sturgeon says that should offer some comfort to people who are worried about the virus spreading in schools.

At her daily briefing, she said: "I know and can well understand why many parents and teachers and young people themselves have concerns about the return to school. 

"Yes, we have had clusters of cases in some communities involving young people – but I think these figures reveal the bigger picture."

She continued: "Despite an increase of more than 300% in the number of young people that were tested from one week to the next, from the week before last to last week, the number of positive cases recorded increased by just two. Not 2%, just two cases in total.

"I think that is encouraging and I hope is reassuring to parents and teachers across the country. I hope it will encourage you to absolutely continue to be vigilant, we all have to be vigilant right now but not to be unduly concerned about young people in schools.

"And while it is understandable that people, parents in particular, want to err on the side of caution, it is also important to remember the symptoms of Covid that trigger the need for a test. These are any one of a new persistent cough, a fever, or a loss of or change in sense of taste or smell.

"Other symptoms - like a runny nose -  if they are not accompanied by one of the Covid symptoms, should not lead to a test.

"I hope the data I’ve just reported provides some additional assurance as the school term continues. We will of course continue to closely monitor these results over the coming weeks and if there are any changes that I need to bring to your attention, please be assured that I will do that but I thought it was important to give you an insight into this information today."