The R number in Scotland – the average number of people infected by each person with Covid-19 – may have fallen below one.
Getting the figure consistently below one is seen as key to lifting restrictions designed to control the spread of coronavirus.
The First Minister suggested the latest analysis of the R number had shown that “some progress has been made”.
Nicola Sturgeon told parliament the the figure was “hovering around one and may actually be slightly below one”.
“That suggests some progress has been made in recent weeks,” she added. “The current tough measures, and people’s compliance with these measures, are undoubtedly having an effect.”
Every area of Scotland is currently living under restrictions as part of the five-tier Covid alert system.
And the FM warned there were still “very significant” regional variations in coronavirus infections.
Sturgeon said “transmission is rising again” in some council regions, including those with the less strict restrictions in levels one and two.
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