COVID-19 is well and truly on the retreat in South Ayrshire as the weekly number of cases has nearly halved from one week to the next.

The latest statistics from Public Health Scotland show that there were 272 positive test results returned in the area between October 2-8.

That’s a decrease from 469 the week before, which in turn was down from 675 on the week preceding that one. It gives us a seven-day rate per 100,00 of 242.6, the seventh lowest of any council area in the country.

Despite the downward trend in the number of cases, there is an upwards trajectory in relation to the number of deaths occurring from Covid in the area, the result of last month’s record-high case numbers.

There were 13 people in South Ayrshire who died where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate between September 27-October 3, according to the latest figures from the National Records of Scotland. That’s the most weekly Covid deaths to occur in South Ayrshire all year.

The vaccination programme in South Ayrshire has moved onto those aged 12-15-years-old, 21.7 per cent of 12-15-year-olds have now received a first dose.

76.8 per cent of 16-17-year-olds have received a first dose of vaccine and 12.8 per cent have had their second. Of those aged over 18-years-old, 96.1 per cent have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine and 91.8 per cent have had two.

The number of deaths from all causes registered in Scotland in last week was 1,242, which is 196, or 19 per cent, more than the five year average according to NRS data.