A quarter of all deaths linked to coronavirus have occurred in care homes, prompting tough questions for the government about how the outbreak is being managed.
National Records of Scotland data has shown that 25% of the 962 deaths linked to the virus have occurred in care homes.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon faced questions about how the virus was being managed in care homes after the data was published.
Sturgeon revealed in her daily briefing that 433 care homes in Scotland had recorded outbreaks of COVID-19.
The government has now said it will test all residents in care homes who show symptoms.
However the First Minister insisted there was "no evidence" that increased testing of residents and staff at a much earlier stage would have prevented any deaths.
Speaking in Edinburgh she said: “We already test the first residents in any care home to become symptomatic of coronavirus in order to establish the presence of the virus in that home and then ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to protect all residents.
“However, we’re moving now to test all symptomatic patients in care homes.
“The advice to me is that while this is not strictly necessary, nor will it change the clinical management of cases at care homes, it is nevertheless important for the confidence of relatives staff and the wider public, given the vulnerability of care homes."
Unlike in England, Sturgeon said people will not be tested before leaving hospital to return to a care home.
She said she feared this would give homes a false assurance because testing asymptomatic people was unreliable.
Of the 962 deaths registered, the majority (586) were in hospital. 237 were in care homes, whilst 128 were in private dwellings.
One death took place in an unspecified location.
The interim chief medical officer detailed the way coronavirus was managed in care homes at the briefing, including self isolation and social distancing.
Dr Gregor Smith said this would remain unchanged.
Age Scotland said the figures were "devastating", and called for elderly people to be given the same access to medical treatment.
Age Scotland chief executive Brian Sloan said: “It is devastating to learn that 237 care home residents in Scotland have died as a result of coronavirus. The fear we have had over the past few weeks about the impact this is having on some of the people most at risk has now sadly become a reality.
“No age group is immune but these grim figures highlight once again the devastating effect that this virus has on the lives of older people.
“Each and every death is a tragic loss to those who knew and loved them. Care homes must be supported with everything they need to prevent and stop the spread of this virus among residents and staff."
The charity also repeated calls for care workers to be given the appropriate PPE, saying they should not be treated as a second tier of frontline worker.
Age Scotland also called for more widespread testing.
Sloan added: “Unfortunately we expect more older residents of care homes in Scotland will die in the coming days, weeks and months as a result of coronavirus. Care homes are close knit communities where staff and residents love and care for one another, never more so than now when family members cannot visit their loves ones.
"Older residents and their carers deserve our full support as they navigate this difficult path ahead.”
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