There have been 572 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours.

According to Scottish Government statistics, there have been 41 deaths in the same period. 

53 were in intensive care yesterday with the virus with a further 996 in the hospital.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon warns 'preventative action may be necessary' amid fears of new variant Covid 

15,917 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results – 4.0% of these being positive.

READ MORE: Coronavirus Scotland: Areas with most Covid cases this week

Yesterday, the Scottish Government reported 744 new cases with 36 new reported deaths.  

In the week ending 13 December, 224 deaths were registered where COVID-19 was on the death certificate.

4,280 people have died in Scotland as a result of the pandemic. 

The daily test positivity rate is 4.0%, down from 4.2% on the previous day.

Of the new cases, 121 are in Lanarkshire, 120 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and 104 in Lothian.

There are 1,033 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, up one in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 53 are in intensive care, an increase of three.