For the first time in five weeks COVID-19 has claimed the lives of people in South Ayrshire.

Figures published by the National Records of Scotland today show that three people died in the last week (May 31 - June 6) where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.

That accounts for nearly half of all COVID deaths in the country in the last week.

The last time a COVID death was recorded in South Ayrshire was the week beginning April 26.

It comes amid rising case numbers in the area, which have led to South Ayrshire becoming one of the worst affected areas in the country, recording more than two hundred cases in the last week alone. 

The other two Ayrshire council areas recorded zero COVID deaths in the last week.

As of June 6, 10,130 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate, according to the statistics.

In the week May 31 – June 6, eight deaths were registered that mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, the same number of deaths as the previous week.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “The latest figures show that last week there were eight deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

“One death was aged under 65, two were aged 65-74, and five were over 75.

“Seven deaths occurred in hospitals, and one occurred in a care home.”