The number of positive coronavirus tests in Scotland since the pandemic started has now reached 200,000.

The country passed the milestone yesterday as another 769 positive cases were added to the total, taking it to 200,406.

Nicola Sturgeon said the vaccination programme was having an impact and asked people to continue with the lockdown restrictions for the next six weeks when they are due to begin a gradual phased lifting.

She said that the number of people vaccinated has now reached more than one and a half million people in Scotland - and thousands are getting their second dose each day.

The latest numbers for vaccinations showed that on Wednesday, another 27,903 people got their first dose, taking the total to 1,515,980 people.

The First Minister said: “The fact that more than 1,500,000 people have now received the first dose of vaccination is, I think, a really significant milestone. 

“We have now given a first dose to almost exactly one third of the adult population, and that includes virtually everyone in the top four clinical priority groups as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.”

In addition, she said 85 per cent of 65 to 69-year-olds have now had their first dose. 

She added: “We continue to be on course to complete that group by early March. Subject to supply, we expect to be able to offer first doses to all over 50-year-olds and all adults with an underlying health condition by 15 April.”

Sturgeon said 56,661 people have now received a second dose, after 6,540 got it on Wednesday.

And she added: “Significantly, around a third of residents in older people’s care homes have already received the second dose.”

“Once again, I take the opportunity to record my thanks to everyone who is involved in administering the vaccines and everyone who is coming forward to receive them.

The number of people in hospital and in intensive care showed a decline.

There were 967 people in hospital with Covid, which is 51 fewer than the previous day, and 89 people were in intensive care, which is four fewer than yesterday. 

There were a further 31 deaths registered of someone who had tested positive for Covid-19 in the previous 28 days, taking the total to 7,084. 

Sturgeon said one of the lockdown easing planned for April 5 could be brought forward to allow people to celebrate Easter and Passover.

She was asked by Labour MSP, Elaine Smith: “If the First Minister will not allow the immediate reopening of places of worship to give Scottish Christians and members of other faiths equality with those in the rest of the United Kingdom, will she at least confirm on what date she intends to allow places of worship to reopen, and whether she will base access on the size of a church or other premises, rather than on an arbitrary number of 20 people?”

Sturgeon, said: “Constructive discussions are taking place. On Tuesday, I said that I recognise that April 5 falls just after Easter and Passover, and that we would take account of that. 

“Assuming that that phase of reopening can start, it would absolutely be the intention to allow places of worship to open in time for the full Easter weekend.”

The First Minister had said in her strategy out of lockdown the stay at home rule is due to be lifted on April 5 if progress with suppressing the virus and with vaccinations continues.