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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Alasdair Clark

Nicola Sturgeon confirms 16 coronavirus deaths across Scotland with 584 cases confirmed

16 people have now died from coronavirus in Scotland, it has been announced.

Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs at Holyrood that 584 cases had now been confirmed, but repeated this was most likely an underestimation.

There are 70 confirmed cases in the Lothians, as well as 183 in Glasgow, 48 in Tayside and 25 in Fife.

On work, she said it was up to employers to make decision and not for employees to "anguish over decisions whether to go into work".

She said non-essential retail businesses should now close.

The Scottish Parliament is also curtailing its business, and it will only meet for one day per week rather than the usual three.

The First Minister said she recognised it was still important for MSPs to be able to continue to hold parliament to account.

"This is by far the biggest challenge our country has faced in many decades," she said.

She described the lockdown measures as "essential" to save lives.

"The daily reality we face right now is quite a stark one.

"If we all follow these measures," she said, then many fewer people would die.

Saving lives must be the priority of each and every one of us, Sturgeon concludes.  

For all of the latest updates on coronavirus in Edinburgh, visit our breaking news live blog here.

Another way to stay updated is by joining our new Edinburgh coronavirus news Facebook group.

For the latest guidance on coronavirus from Health Protection Scotland,  click here.

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