Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scots to continue testing for covid twice a week even as infection levels across the country begin to drop.
Access to free lateral flow tests (LFTs) will be withdrawn by the end of April but the First Minister said people could not be "complacent".
The number of people testing positive for covid has soared over the last month but has not caused a corresponding increase in patients in hospital intensive care units.
Sturgeon told MSPs: "The number of people in hospital with Covid reported today –2,344 – is 39 lower than yesterday.
"But yesterday’s figure was the highest it has been since the start of the pandemic.
"So today’s number is still exceptionally high, and significantly above the previous peak of hospital cases, which was 2053 in January 2021.
"More positively - and again this is evidence of the power of vaccination - the number of patients in intensive care with Covid remains relatively low – 26 on today’s figures. That is a fall of 15 in the last two weeks.
"Nevertheless, the volume of people in hospital with Covid is causing very significant pressure for a health service that has been dealing with the pandemic for more than two years."
The First Minister continued: "That means we cannot be complacent.
"For the period up until Easter we are continuing to ask everyone to take a lateral flow test twice a week, to take a test daily for 7 days if you are a close contact of a positive case, and to take a test before visiting someone who is vulnerable.
"If you have symptoms, you should continue to get a PCR test, either at a testing site or by post."
Free access to LFTs will end on April 18 except for those working in health and social care and for people visiting vulnerable individuals in care homes or hospital
Those living in close contact with people who test positive will also be asked to continue taking daily LFTs for one week.
PCR testing sites will close on or around April 30 and Scots who display symptoms will instead be advised to stay home until they feel better.
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