THERE have been a further 45 deaths from Covid-19 in Scotland during the past 24 hours, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The latest figures for the virus in Scotland show that there have been 1212 new cases confirmed since Wednesday, taking the total to 77,660.

Of those who tested positive for the virus, 127 remain in hospital, a fall of 28 on the day before. 

However, 98 people remain in intensive care, an increase of five in 24 hours.

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Starting her session of First Ministers Questions at Holyrood with an update on the Covid situation, Ms Sturgeon said that the number of new cases were spread across 13 health board areas. 

The majority were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, where 474 were detected, 231 in Lanarkshire, 141 in Lothian, and 76 in Fife and Ayrshire and Arran. 

The rest were spread across eight other areas. 

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The First Minister said that the 'R' number, which represents the rate the virus is reproducing, is expected to have dropped below one, and will issue an update later.

However, she urged caution and asked that people remain vigilant and take all precautions against contracting the virus. 

The First Minister said: “That suggests some progress has been made in recent weeks.

“The current tough measures, and people’s compliance with these measures, are undoubtedly having an effect.”

But she said there were still “very significant” regional variations in coronavirus infections.

Ms Sturgeon said there were some local authority areas where “transmission is rising again” – adding these included some parts of the country with less strict restrictions in either Level 1 or Level 2 under Scotland’s new five-tier system.

Nicola Sturgeon urged people in these areas not to “drop your guard”.

She also told MSPs of her concern that in some areas across Scotland’s central belt case numbers have “stabilised at a stubbornly high level”.

The First Minister said: “That creates a risk for the winter period and it also makes the risks associated with the Christmas period higher as well.

“So, we will be considering carefully over the next few days and assessing whether further action is required.”