Scots are being warned to stop attending funerals in large numbers because of the risk of spreading deadly coronavirus.
It follows reports the 20-person limit is being breached despite the country being under high restrictions to stop Covid-19 getting out of control.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman delivered the grim reminder of the situation facing families even when trying to say goodbye to loved ones.
“I want to remind people that that limit of 20 is still in place and that unfortunately it is there for a really good reason,” she said at the latest public covid briefing.
Freeman urged people arranging a funeral to think about the restrictions when sending invitations.
She asked people unable to attend because of the limit to “please respect that fact”.
Freeman added: “Maybe find out if it is possible to see the service by other means such as live-streaming and check with the person organising about the other ways in which you can pay your respects.
“But please, don’t simply turn up. This places the organisers in a terrible position and it also of course increases the risk that virus will spread as a result of the event.”
Freeman was speaking after confirming another 67 peopled died in a day from covid-19 in Scotland.
There were 830 positive tests in the past 24 hours. Freeman said 1,472 people were in hospital yesterday with the virus, down 27 compared with the previous day, while 115 patients were in intensive care, up six.
