The number of positive Covid tests being returned weekly in East Ayrshire has plummeted, reducing by almost 300 cases.

The latest Public Health Scotland data show that there were 464 cases of confirmed Covid between September 26 and October 2 – down from 727 the week before.

It gives us a seven-day case rate per 100,000 of population of 381.6.

A total of 93.1 per cent of people aged over 16 in East Ayrshire have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and 86 per cent have had two.

This past week has seen two significant alterations to Covid regulations.

The vaccine passport scheme coming into effect on Friday and Monday saw the amber list scrapped and the traffic light system replaced by a single red list.

It means most fully vaccinated travellers arriving from non-red list countries will no longer have to take a test before setting off. Those coming from red list countries must still pay to quarantine for 10 days.

However, as it stands, they will still have to take a PCR tests two days after arrival in Scotland, but this may change later, with the UK Government said to be considering requiring a lateral flow test instead.

Nicola sturgeon said yesterday that “we’re working with the UK government on future changes.”

Yesterday was the Government’s three week review date for Covid regulations. Sturgeon confirmed that there would be no changes made. She said: “That decision reflects, firstly, that the number of cases is continuing to fall and so our judgment is that there is no need to introduce any tighter restrictions.”