A patient from Greater Glasgow has died from coronavirus. 

It comes as the number of people diagnosed with the deadly virus in Scotland has risen to 195. 

That is an increase of 24 from yesterday's figure of 171.

The update came as part of the Scottish Government's 2pm daily announcement regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.

Greater Glasgow remains the NHS board in the country with the highest cases, jumping again from 44 to 49.

The total number of people in Scotland who have died as a result of the virus has risen to two.

The elderly patient, being treated in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, had underlying health conditions. 

Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood said: “I am very saddened to report that an elderly patient with underlying health conditions, who has tested positive for coronavirus, has died. They were being treated by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board.

“I offer my deepest condolences to their friends and family at this difficult time. No further information will be available to protect patient confidentiality.”

Elsewhere, in Lanarkshire the number of cases has risen from 20 to 21.

Clydebank Post:

Earlier, Nicola Sturgeon warned we are “on the cusp of a rapid acceleration”, as she urged the public to follow advice about reducing social contact.

The First Minister said she was being “frank and transparent” with people about the need to reduce non-essential contact with others, with the latest advice to avoid pubs, restaurants and public events.

Expressing “enormous sympathy” for businesses affected by the measures, Ms Sturgeon said “every penny” of extra funding from Westminster would go to helping businesses and public services cope with the pandemic.

The latest advice is that people showing symptoms of Covid-19 – namely a persistent cough or a fever – should self-isolate for 14 days, along with every member of their household, in addition to urging people to “socially distance”.

On Tuesday morning, Ms Sturgeon told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland that the policies and advice were being guided “by the best scientific and medical expertise” but that the virus was spreading faster than expected.

Clydebank Post:

Addressing the measures announced on Monday, Ms Sturgeon said: “What changed yesterday, is that the speed and the extent of the spread is beyond what had previously been anticipated.

“That is particularly true now in London, but all of us are on the cusp of a rapid acceleration and that is why the measures that were announced yesterday represent such a step up in the actions that are being advised.”

Explaining the current guidance, Ms Sturgeon said: “We’re asking the general population to significantly reduce their social interaction, so if you are able work from home, do.

“Don’t go to the pub, cinema or theatre in the way that you would normally do. Avoid unnecessary travel, stay at home more than you would otherwise do.

“That advice is to the general public, but the advice is particularly strong for people over 70 and also for people who have underlying health conditions for which they would get the flu vaccine in a usual year, and also for pregnant women.”

Those with immune system problems will be receiving “tailored information directly”, Ms Sturgeon added.

She said: “I want to be very clear with people, we are considering all of these things incredibly carefully.

“None of these are easy judgements to take.

“We will not always get these things right, but we will strive to get them as right as we possibly can in a very difficult situation, being guided by the best possible scientific advice, applying judgement to that and doing everything we can to keep the public as a whole – particularly those who are most vulnerable – as safe as we possibly can.”

Ms Sturgeon said it is “inevitable that we will see significant additional measures taken”.

She added: “I give a guarantee that every penny of additional that is announced by the Treasury as far as Scotland is concerned will be passed on to those who need that.”