A further 12 people have died from Coronavirus in Scotland’s hospitals bringing the total to 2,434 fatalities.
The latest figures were announced at the Scottish Government’s daily Covid-19 briefing in Parliament before First Minister's Questions.
The First Minister confirmed there have now been a total of 15,665 positive cases of the virus - a rise of 12 from yesterday.
A total of 987 people are currently being treated in hospital with 18 in intensive care, a decrease of three.
Nicola Sturgeon remains optimistic that the country could be in a position to enter phase two of lockdown by the end of next week if figures continue to fall.
But concerns have been raised by nurses working in Scottish hospitals that them moving between wards may be helping to spread Covid-19.
A whistleblower from Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow, told the Record that staff are normally restricted to just one ward when dealing with winter vomiting bugs.
They claimed that this rule is not being enforced when working with positive patients during the pandemic, sparking fears of cross-contamination.
A total of 901 patients have caught the virus in hospital - with 218 of them sadly dying - despite being admitted for a separate condition.
Health chiefs have insisted that appropriate PPE is in place for staff to reduce the risk and that they are following national infection control procedures.
