Of the new cases, 220 were confirmed in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 136 in Lanarkshire, and 101 in the Lothians.

The remaining cases were reported from nine other health boards other health boards across the country.

To date, 1,227 people are being treated for Covid-19 in hospital, 14 fewer than yesterday, and 98 people are in intensive care, a decrease of from yesterday, having recently tested positive for the virus.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon giving daily covid briefing.

A total of 82,011 in Scotland are confirmed to have had the virus since the start of the outbreak in March, according to government figures.

The country’s death toll currently stands at 3,286 under the daily measurement.

The new 717 cases represents 8.3 per cent of new tests that were carried out yesterday.

Nicola Sturgeon commented that despite registration offices being closed at weekends which creates ‘artificially’ low statistics, she said today’s figures were lower than the Government expected.

In her announcement of the figures today, the First Minister said: “Although we often see a slightly lower number of new cases after a weekend, today’s figure are nevertheless lower than we expected them to be so we are looking to see whether there are any other reasons that might be the cause of that.”

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Coronavirus in Scotland: 101 new cases in the Lothians as country records 717 cases and 6 deaths in 24 hours