SOME 2317 new cases of Covid-19 and four deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours in Scotland, figures show.

Some 49 people were in intensive care and 517 in hospital on Friday with recently confirmed Covid-19, Scottish Government figures published on Saturday afternoon show.

Overall, 3,970,026 people have now received the first dose of the vaccination and 2,954,776 have had their second dose.

The overall death toll, under the measure of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days, is now 7800.

It comes as it was revealed yesterday that the number of new cases of Covid-19 reported each day in the UK has climbed above 50,000 for the first time in six months.

READ MORE: Daily reported cases of Covid in UK top 50k for first time since January

A total of 51,870 cases were reported by the Government on July 16.

This is the highest number since January 15, when 55,761 cases were reported.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month warned that the number of new cases could reach 50,000 a day by July 19 – the date on which coronavirus restrictions are to be eased in England.

The latest total is still some way below the peak of the second wave of the virus, which saw a high of 68,053 cases reported on January 8.

But the numbers are on a clear upwards trend, with average daily cases up 35% week-on-week.