Scotland and Northern Ireland report no new coronavirus deaths

Scottish health minister warns people against ‘reading too much into’ figures

No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland and Northern Ireland, according to government figures.

A total of 2,415 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19 as of Sunday – which is no change from Saturday’s death toll.

It is the first time the country has reported no new deaths since its lockdown began.

Northern Ireland’s death toll has also stayed the same since Saturday, according to its health ministry.

As of 7 June, a total of 537 people have died after contracting Covid-19 in the country.

After Scottish government figures showed no new deaths had been reported over a 24-hour period, the national health minister warned people against “reading too much into” the news.

“We know that fewer deaths tend to be registered at the weekend than on other days of the week; it is still very likely that further Covid-19 deaths will be reported in the days ahead,” Jeane Freeman said.

“And, as always, I want to stress that the numbers I’m reading out are not simply statistics, every one of those 2,415 people who have died was an individual whose loss is a source of grief and sorrow to very many.

“So I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who’s lost a loved one.”

Data from Scotland’s government also shows 15,621 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the country – up by 18 from Saturday.

Meanwhile, there were six more coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland compared to the day before, bringing the total number of infections to 4,796.

Across the whole of the UK, 77 new deaths were announced on Sunday – the lowest daily increase since lockdown began in March.

Its death toll of 40,542 was the fourth-highest in the world on 7 June, according to a Reuters global count.

On Sunday, Scotland's justice secretary said the country would follow the rest of the UK by introducing a quarantine for travellers.

People arriving from abroad will have to quarantine for 14 days or face a £480 fine, Humza Yousaf said.

The UK has been gradually relaxing its lockdown measures over coronavirus, with steps varying across the different countries.

Additional reporting by Press Association