Speaking at a live press conference in St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said 48 more people had died from the disease since yesterday.

It brings the total number people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Scotland to 495.

It comes after yesterday’s figure of 81 marked the highest number of deaths in one day since the outbreak began.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at her daily press conference. (Photo by Jane Barlow-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The First Minister also said the number of people who have tested positive had reached 5,275 – an increase of 318.

More than 1,832 are now in hospital receiving treatment for Covid-19, 207 of whom are in intensive care.

Ms Sturgeon once again emphasised that these official figures were likely to be significantly lower than the true numbers.

She said she would visit NHS Louisa Jordan to inspect progress, but said the project was on track to open by mid-April.

The First Minister was joined by Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Iain Livingstone, who warned people not to break lockdown restrictions this Easter weekend.

He said his officers had issued more than 500 fines to Scots who had refused to comply with government guidelines, but added that the “vast majority” of people were obeying the law.

He said police would continue to inform the public, but said when required, they would “enforce the law”.

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Nicola Sturgeon: 48 new coronavirus deaths as infections pass 5,000