Coronavirus has tragically killed 192 people in Ayrshire, with most deaths registered in the last week happening in care homes.

24 care home resident deaths were registered between April 27 and May 3.

9 deaths occurred in hospitals.

Nursing and care homes are now seen as the epicentre of the pandemic across the country.

49 people have died from the virus in East Ayrshire, 75 in South Ayrshire and 68 in North Ayrshire.

The updated figure, released by National Records of Scotland today, shows an increase of 33 since last week's total.

The death rate per 10,000 population has gone from 4.3 to 5.2.

The number shows deaths registered as related to confirmed or suspected coronavirus as marked on the death certificate and is different to the daily update which shows those who have tested positive.

Between March 5 and May 3, 163 inpatients who had tested positive have been discharged from hospitals in Ayrshire.

Yesterday, the First Minister said the government knows the reproduction rate (R number) of the virus is higher in care homes.

She said: "We know the R number is higher in care homes, the R number in the community is between 0.7 and 1, but we cannot be sure."

While the government believes that the spread of the virus is decreasing in communities, it is still spreading through care facilities.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said the virus 'loves' institutions such as care homes which are full of vulnerable people more susceptible to COVID-19.

Between April 27 to May 3, 523 deaths relating to COVID-19 were registered across Scotland, a decrease of 135 from the previous week.

More than half of these occurred in care homes.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “Every death from this virus is a tragedy. These statistics, alongside the other important evidence being made available by the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland (HPS), are valuable to the understanding of the progress and impact of the COVID-19 virus across Scotland."

In the past 24 hours, there have been 21 more confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ayrshire, making the total 846.

Hospital numbers are lowest they have been since first reported, with 56 patients being treated for suspected or confirmed coronavirus. 7 people are in ICU.