Scotland's coronavirus reproduction rate is the joint second highest in the UK as the regional R numbers have been revealed for the first time.
The R number is currently being used by officials when making decisions on reviewing restrictions to the lockdown amid the national outbreak of Covid-19.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously told the public that the reproduction rate is somewhere between 0.7 and 1 - meaning that the number of infections from the virus appears to be on the decline.
Stricter lockdown measures could be enforced if the R number was to go above one, reports the Mirror.
UK Government ministers have previously refused to give out the exact figures per region when asked in recent weeks.
However, figures revealed by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has revealed that Scotland’s R number currently stands at 0.8.
This finding makes Scotland the joint second highest region in the UK for infection rates - the North East, East Midlands, North West and West Midlands have all recorded the same number.
But this number is said to be 'likely decreasing'.
Only the South West and Northern Ireland are higher, with an R number of 0.9.
The data was compiled by the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Burnham tweeted: “In the absence of a Government commitment to do so, I promised to publish regular updates on regional R numbers. So here’s a table published today by @cmmid_Ishtm. Not a great deal of “room for manoeuvre” as the Chief Scientific Advisor told the @10DowningStreet daily briefing.”
The Scottish Government announced a raft of changes to lockdown restrictions earlier this week as the country moved into 'phase one'.
Scots are now allowed to meet one other household outside, while a range of outdoor non-contact sports have been reopened to the public.
Officially the UK as a whole has an R of between 0.7 and 0.9 but Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance has said a slight increase could be dangerous.
All regions were deemed to have infection rates “decreasing” or “likely decreasing” apart from the South West.
