Education secretary self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus

The Scottish Government's education secretary has tested positive for coronavirus and is now self-isolating. 

Shirley-Anne Somerville said she went for a COVID test after losing her sense of smell on Saturday. 

The MSP for Dunfermline confirmed on Twitter that the result had returned positive. 

It is not understood if she has been a contact of other MSPs or cabinet members.

Somerville said on Twitter on Sunday: "After losing my sense of smell yesterday I went for a COVID test which has come back positive. 

"I’ll now self isolate and continue to work from home. Keep yourself and others safe and please take a test if you have any symptoms."

Somerville replaced John Swinney as education secretary after the election in May.

A total of 3,190 new cases of COVID were reported in Scotland yesterday. There were 338 people in hospital with the virus - 34 of whom were receiving treatment in intensive care. 

The number of people who have now received their first dose of the vaccine is 4,079,496 people, while 3,556,947 have received their second dose.