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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Holly Lennon

Covid Scotland: 1,104 new coronavirus cases recorded as 'low risk' Euros fan zone opens

More than 1,100 people have tested positive for covid in Scotland since yesterday.

The total number of cases confirmed on Friday stands at 1,104 - 4.1% of those newly tested.

The majority of the new cases (318) were recorded in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with an additional 158 in Lanarkshire.

There are currently 132 people in hospital - an increase of eight from Thursday. 13 people are also receiving treatment in intensive care.

No new deaths have been registered, with the country's death toll of people who tested positive for covid now standing at 7,679.

Some of the new cases recorded will be tests carried out on Thursday due to an issue at the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab, the Scottish Government has said.

The rise in cases comes as the Euro fan zone in Glasgow Green opens to the public. The site will welcome up to 6,000 people across two sessions.

Everyone attending the event has been asked to take a covid test beforehand, but the measure will not be enforced.

A testing centre will be set up at the park throughout the event which will run for the whole Euro 2020 tournament.

Professor Jason Leitch said the fan zone is a "gateway event" as part of the move out of lockdown.

He said: "I think they've done a good job. It's not zero risk, the fan zone cannot be zero risk.

"The only way to take away all of the risk of Covid is to lock the city down, not let any crowds in the fan zone or the stadium.

"That's not what I think the pandemic stage we're at suggests."

He said gaining entry to the fan zone will not require evidence of vaccination or a recent negative test, however testing is "very, very recommended".

Making the tests mandatory could lead to people "gaming" or cheating the system, he said, arguing persuasion is a better way forward.

He added: "We're trying to see if we can mail (tests) out to some of the people who will have tickets.

"In the meantime there will be a testing centre at the fan zone if you haven't managed to do it.

"But please, please, please do it before you go."

Officials from several organisations involved in the fan zone met on Thursday, he said, and a group of public health advisers will be monitoring data from the site.

Prof Leitch said: "We said in the meeting yesterday, all of us agreed - it's not a Scottish Government thing, it's a partner thing - that if it goes badly there will have to be a reverse gear."

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