The number of people who died in Ayrshire where Covid-19 was mentioned on their death certificate in the last week is at the lowest level since the beginning of September.

The latest National Records of Scotland data, published earlier today, shows that there were 10 Covid-related deaths in the Ayrshire and Arran health board area between November 15-21.

That's a decrease from 14 the week before and is the lowest weekly total since the week beginning September 6, when four deaths were recorded.

Three of those who died were from East Ayrshire.

There were also three deaths from North Ayrshire.

And in South Ayrshire, four people died.

All three Ayrshire council areas also saw a decrease in the number of positive tests being returned this week.

As of November 21, 12,028 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.

In the week November 15-21, 94 deaths were registered that mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, a decrease of 22 deaths from the previous week.

A total of 17 deaths were of people aged under 65, 16 were aged 65-74 and there were 61 deaths in people aged 75 or over. Of the fatalities, 50 deaths were male and 44 were female.

Glasgow City (13 deaths), Falkirk (eight deaths) and Fife (seven deaths) had the highest numbers of deaths at council level. In total, 28 out of 32 council areas had at least one death last week.

In all, 69 deaths were in hospitals, 10 were in care homes, 14 were at home or in a non-institutional setting, and one death was in another institutional setting.

Pete Whitehouse, director of statistical services, said: “The latest figures show that last week there were 94 deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. This is 22 fewer deaths than the previous week.”

“The number of deaths from all causes registered in Scotland in this week was 1,265, which is 126, or 11 per cent, more than the five year average.”