An average of 1,669 patients were in hospital with the virus in Scotland last week - up from 1,451 the previous week.
The number of patients in hospital with Covid on 10 June was 701. By 10 July, this tally was at 1,726.
It is not thought to be more deadly than any other form of Covid but it does appear to be spreading more quickly. Mr Poolman said: "Increasing numbers of staff are going off sick with Covid-19, making the already dire staffing situation even worse and reducing yet further the quality of care they are able to deliver.
Last week, Scotland's largest health board said it had 945 members of staff off work because of Covid.
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