The second phase of Covid-19 vaccinations will continue to prioritise people based on age.

Jeane Freeman, the Health Secretary said that once the first phase of all aged 50 and over and those with health conditions had been vaccinated, planned for by April 15, the rest of the adult population would be next.

She said the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI was to continue on the basis of age.

She siaid supplies permitting, all over 18s would be vaccinated by the end of July.

Freeman said the JCVI advise age is still the most significant factor and is  the "quickest and most effective way".

She said: "The Scottish Government has accepted the JCVI advice."

She said after all over 50 had been carried out it would then move to the 40 to 49 age group, followed by 30 to 39 and then 18 to 29 year-olds.

She said: "The JCVI is clear the greatest risk lies with age not where you work.

"It's the right thing for this government to follow that well thought through clinical advice."

The latest statistics showed there were 581 new positive coronavirus cases recorded, which was a test positivity rate of 3.3%.

There were 924 people in hospital, down by 43, and 80 patients were in intensive care, down by 9.

Another 27 deaths were registered of a person who tested positive for Covis-19 in the previous 28 days.

The total deaths is now at 7111.

Another 26,949 people were vaccinated with their first dose on Thursday.

The total number of people vaccinated with a first dose is now 1,543,929.

On Thursday, 8679 had a second dose. The total who have had both doses is now 65,340.