East Ayrshire has rocketed up the table of the areas worst affected by COVID and is now in the top three in the country in terms of seven-day rate per 100,000 population.

Public Health Scotland figures show that there were 276 cases recorded between June 13-19, which is an increase from 174 the previous week.

It gives us a seven-day rate per 100,000 of population of 226.2. Only City of Edinburgh and Dundee City have worse rates.

Only seven out of the 30 neighbourhoods in East Ayrshire are currently classified as having suppressed the virus.

East Ayrshire is not alone in seeing rising case numbers, the whole country is experiencing a surge in cases, but as of yet hospitalisations and ICU admissions are not increasing at the same rate they were in either of the previous two waves, thanks to the increasing number of people who have been vaccinated.

And the number of adults vaccinated in East Ayrshire has now reached 84.8 per cent for first doses and 64.7 per cent for second doses. Nationwide the figures are at 82.3 and 58.5 respectively.

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday afternoon confirmed a delay to the easing of lockdown measures as she said was likely to be the case when speaking the week before.

It means it will be at least three more weeks before any council areas move down to level zero.

She said: “The news on vaccination continues to be positive but this has to be balanced against the continued rise in cases.

“However, overall, the evidence that vaccination is helping protect people from serious health harms is allowing us to change how we respond to the virus.”

She did however, announce changes for weddings and funerals, which are are set to come in on Monday (June 28), with suppliers of services, and others employed by those getting married, no longer counting towards a cap on numbers. 

Those accompanying the couple down the aisle will no longer need to wear a mask and live music at reception venues can return.

Funeral rules have been changed so that people from more than one household can help carry a coffin, and take a cord when lowering it.

The FM said: “We expect these changes to have a relatively minor impact on transmission - they are relatively minor changes. But I hope they will make some difference to those organising and attending weddings and funerals, ahead of the more substantial changes at level 0.”