ANOTHER 41 people have died in Scotland after contracting Covid-19, the Government has confirmed.

A further 771 cases were also recorded in the past 24 hours – representing 8.6% of all new tests.

The latest deaths among people to have tested positive in the previous 28 days bring the total under that measurement to 3544.

Some 1197 people are in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, a decrease of 11 from 24 hours previously.

Of those, 84 were in intensive care – no change.

Here is a full regional breakdown of the new statistics.

The National:

Delivering an update to the Scottish Parliament, Nicola Sturgeon revealed the R number – the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average – is now believed to be below 1. 

The First Minister added: "The latest data shows that across Scotland, the restrictions in place are having an impact. The number of new cases across the country has stabilised in recent weeks – and we now have grounds for cautious optimism that COVID numbers may be declining.

"There's also evidence that admissions to hospital and ICU are now declining - though these figures fluctuate.

"Independent estimates also place Scotland’s R number at between 0.8 and 1 – which again suggests that COVID infections may now be declining."