A FURTHER 244 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Scotland.

It is the highest daily increase since May 6 and brings the total since the start of the pandemic to 22,679.

The new cases represent 3.7% of those tested in the past 24 hours.

No more deaths were recorded among those who have tested positive for Covid-19, meaning the total under that measurement remains 2499. However, Register Offices are now generally closed at weekends.

Some 259 people were in hospital last night with confirmed coronavirus – down by two in 24 hours.

Of those, seven were in intensive care – a decrease of one. 

Responding to the figures on Twitter, Nicola Sturgeon wrote: 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reacted to the news on Twitter.

She wrote: "Today’s case report underlines the need for all of us to be careful and abide by public health rules."

She urged the pubic to follow new restrictions which limit gatherings to six people from two households.

Scotland currently has additional restrictions in place in several areas with a large number of coronavirus cases. People living in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire are restricted from visiting other households.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde saw the largest increase in cases, with a rise of 104.

In Lanarkshire, the figure rose by 62 overnight, with 25 more cases recorded in Lothian.

These are the latest figures in each Scottish health board.