Fewer than 150 fresh cases of coronavirus have been identified in Scotland in the past 24 hours.

Scottish Government statistics have revealed that 142 positive coronavirus tests have been recorded since Sunday, the lowest figure since September last year. 

The figures were released as Scotland comes out of lockdown, with restrictions eased on shops, cafes and bars. 

READ MORE: How to book a lateral flow test

No new deaths were recorded, although this figure tends to be low on Mondays as registry offices are closed at the weekends. 

The death toll of who tested positive for the disease within the past 28 days remains 7,652.

Separate figures from National Records of Scotland, which count the number where Covid-19 was mentioned on a death certificate, put the toll at 10,055 deaths up to 18 April.

Due to the ongoing Scottish parliament election, the First Minister did not appear in a televised briefing. 

The test positivity rate was 1.7 per cent, lower than the 5% the World Health Organisation (WHO) believes indicates a pandemic is coming under control. 

READ MORE: Scotland Covid restrictions - Key lockdown changes 

According to the latest statistics, the vaccination programme has now administered 2,773,770 first doses, while 1,068,704  have received a second. 

A total of 93 people remain in hospital receiving treatment for the virus, while 12 people are in intensive care, eight of them for longer than 28 days.