The number of positive COVID cases in South Ayrshire has risen again after falling last week, according to the latest statistics.

Public Health Scotland figures show that there were 296 cases between June 26 and July 2, which is an increase of 84 from the previous week.

Our seven-day rate per 100,000 of population currently stands at 262.9, the Scottish rate is currently 422.7.

We remain outwith the top three worst affected council areas in the country when it comes to the seven-day rate.

There are only seven council areas with a lower rate over the past seven days than South Ayrshire.

However, currently none of the 25 neighbourhoods in the area are classed as having suppressed the virus, which means that all have recorded at least four positive tests in the past week.

Carrick South recorded the most positive cases over this period with 20. Dundonald, Loans and Symington recorded 19 new cases.

Girvan Glendoune and Prestwick West recorded the least amount of positive cases with four and five each, respectively.

As of Monday, July 5, 92.1 per cent of the adult population across South Ayrshire had received the first dose of a vaccine, with 69.5 per cent having both, which is both higher than the Scottish average of 86.5 per cent and 62.1 per cent, respectively.

The National Records of Scotland reported that there had been zero COVID deaths across South Ayrshire between June 21-27, the same number as the previous week.

A total of 17 deaths across Scotland were sadly registered during this period.