After a big increase in Covid cases recorded in East Ayrshire last week, the latest figures show that there has been a huge, welcomed drop in positive tests this time around.

Public Health Scotland data show that there were 472 positive tests returned in East Ayrshire between October 24-30.

That’s a decrease of 77 cases from the week before, when 549 cases were recorded.

That now gives us a seven-day rate per 100,000 of population of 388.2. The Scottish average for this marker currently stands at 327.3.

The drop in cases has coincided with an increase in the number of our neighbourhoods that are classed as having suppressed the virus.

There are now two in East Ayrshire under this classification, meaning all other have recorded at least three positive cases in this time frame.

Stewarton West and Kilmaurs are classed as having suppressed the virus.

Auchinleck is the neighbourhood with the most positive cases, recording 51 new cases in this time.

Three other neighbourhoods also recorded at least 30 new cases.

The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland show that between October 18-24, five people from East Ayrshire died where Covid was mentioned on their death certificate, which is down from six in the previous week’s statistics.

A total of 15 people sadly lost their lives in Ayrshire during this

time.

As of October 24, 11,538 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.