The total number of coronavirus cases in Scotland has reached 7,102 as a further 46 cases have been confirmed in the north and north-east in the past 24 hours.
There are 42 new cases in Grampian, taking its total to 389, while the total number of cases in the Highlands has risen by four to 184.
Shetland’s case total remains at 45, Orkney remains on a total of five and the Western Isles has six cases.
There are 16 people in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 in Grampian, six in the Highlands and fewer than five each in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles.
A total of 779 people who tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland have now died.
Update on #coronavirus testing
As of 2pm today 35,392 people in Scotland have been tested
28,290 confirmed negative
7,102 positive779 patients who tested positive have sadly died.
Latest update ➡️ https://t.co/kZjGNz2EDe
Health advice ➡️ https://t.co/l7rqArB6Qu#COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/LuvRqi60rt— Scottish Government (@scotgov) April 16, 2020
Earlier today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said lockdown measures are working in Scotland as she revealed hopes to publish a lockdown exit strategy next week.
Speaking at a virtual First Minister’s Questions, where she was questioned by the leaders of Scotland’s main political parties, Sturgeon said the plans will be drawn up then shared with the public, with a “framework of decision-making” hoped to be announced next week.
She said her “clear advice” is lockdown measures must continue for at least another three weeks.
The relatively stagnant numbers of Covid-19 patients in hospital and intensive care north of the border indicate lockdown measures are working, she said.
The First Minister said: “We do firmly believe that the lockdown is having a positive effect.
“For example, while we still see fluctuations we are not seeing at this stage significant or sustained increases in the number of people in hospital or in intensive care with the virus.
“However, we know these lockdown measures need time to work so we must continue to exercise caution in our predictions, we are by no means through this yet.”
