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THE SEC in Glasgow is set to become a temporary NHS hospital, the First Minister has confirmed.

It could be up and running within two weeks - with an initial 300 beds before rising to over 1000.

Speaking during her daily press conference, Nicola Sturgeon said: "I can confirm today following exploratory work over the last week and the weekend, we have taken the decision to start turning the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow into a temporary NHS hospital."

It comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Scotland rises by 179 overnight to 1563.

READ MORE: Coronavirus LIVE: SEC hospital plans confirmed as deaths rise by six with 1500+ cases

There are currently 108 people in intensive care with the virus, or with symptoms suspected to be COVID-19.

Sadly, 47 people tested positive with coronaviorus have died - an increase of 6 from the figure of 41 announced yesterday.

Nicola Sturgeon added: "If needed, we expect the hospital could become operational within a fortnight from now.

"Initially it could provide us with an additional 300 beds, but ultimately it could have capacity for more than 1,000 patients.

"It is important to be clear that we might not need to use the SEC.

"There are approx 13,000 beds in NHS hospitals across Scotland, and using those, NHS boards are working to ensure at least 3,000 beds are available for Covid-19 patients within our existing hospital network."

This is a breaking story and will be updated.