SCOTLAND has recorded 50 deaths from coronavirus and 803 positive tests in the past 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said.

It brings the death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 6551.

The figures are lower than the 8726 deaths given earlier by the National Records of Scotland as they do not include suspected and probable coronavirus infections.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Sturgeon said 188,345 people have now tested positive in Scotland, up from 187,542 the previous day.

The daily test positivity rate is 4.8%, down from 7.2% on the previous day.

There are 1542 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, down 76 in 24 hours, and 113 patients are in intensive care, an increase of one.

"That is 76 fewer than yesterday, and that is now just 22 above the peak of last spring, which is positive," Sturgeon said.

Sturgeon said figures on long-stay intensive care patients with Covid-19 would also now be published.

She said the daily figures, which show the number of people who have tested positive for the virus or been admitted to hospital within the last 28 days, did not take in those who require longer spells in ICU.

While she said the “standard measure” for intensive care patients had been used, the First Minister said this did “not cover some patients, 30 as of today, who have been in intensive care with Covid now for more than 28 days”.

She added: “The number of Covid patients experiencing long stays in ICU is now increasing therefore from today we will be publishing data on this additional measure.”

The FM said 985,569 people have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, up 57,447 from yesterday.

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Sturgeon said by 8.30am on Wednesday 985,569 Scots had received their first dose – an increase of 57,447 from the previous day.

The First Minister said: “That is the second-highest daily total so far, which given the severe weather conditions yesterday is in my view nothing short of extraordinary.

“My thanks go to everyone who made it happen, those running the programme across the country, and of course those braving the elements to get the jag.”

She said 99.8% of residents in older people’s care homes had now had their first dose of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, she said “at least 96%” of those aged over 80 living in the community had had their initial injection, as well as 80% of those aged 75 to 79 and 45% of those 70 to 74.

“We remain on course to vaccinate everyone over 70 and all people with a serious clinical vulnerability,” she added.

Sturgeon said the vaccination of 65 to 69-year-olds was now “accelerating”.