Scotland has recorded 37 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours with 4,024 new cases also reported overnight.
The latest Scottish Government figures brings the death toll since last March – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 8,464.
There are currently 1,057 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus with 86 being treated in intensive care.
To date 4,166,056 people have received their first vaccination with 3,818,428 having a second dose.
The figures come as Nicola Sturgeon announced she was "very encouraged" by the falling case rate in Scotland as pressure continues to mount on the NHS.
The First Minister revealed in the Scottish Parliament that it could be a "fragile" winter for Scots as the health service struggles to cope with a high covid hospitalisation rate.
Her statement came as Health Secretary Humza Yousaf announced that taxis would be used to help patients get to hospital if ambulances aren't available.
Chelsea Dagger hitmakers The Fratellis have been hit by multiple cases of Covid 19 and forced to cancel their tour dates in Dundee and Rutherlgen.
The band, who have on the road with their 6th album 'Half Drunk Under A Full Moon ' released in May 2020, had to break the news to fans after several members amongst the band and crew became ill with coronavirus.
And the group whose track Whistle For The Choir appears in a big action scene for Suicide Squad 2 told their fans of their disappointment at having to cancel at the eleventh hour.
