Coronavirus patients in Ayrshire and Arran lowest since figures released.

As of midnight last night, 86 people were being treated in Ayrshire hospitals for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 - a drop of 29 since yesterday.

The figure represents the lowest number of people confirmed to be in hospitals with the virus since April 8.

Over the last 24 hours, 19 more people have tested positive for the virus in the region.

Six patients are receiving treatment in intensive care.

The government's review of the lockdown measures is due this week but the First Minister said it is likely that on Thursday she will be asking the public to stick with the restrictions.

Today, the Scottish Government published a paper outlining the Test, Trace, Isolate (TTI) approach that will be used to further suppress the spread of the virus.

Anyone who has symptoms immediately isolates themselves, is given a test and is asked to share details of people they have been in contact with.

Medical staff, called contact tracers then get in touch with those who have been in contact telling them to isolate for 14 days.

If any of these contacts show symptoms they will themselves be tested and the process starts again with those they've been in touch with.

Nicola Sturgeon said she hoped to have the enhanced testing system would be in place by the end of the month when another review of the lockdown measures is expected.

She said that rural parts of Scotland would present a different challenge.

She said: "Different approaches are needed given different geographies."

Irvine Times: The Test, Trace, Isolate system to help suppress the spread of the virus.The Test, Trace, Isolate system to help suppress the spread of the virus.

Ms Sturgeon said her focus was on making the 'right decisions at the right pace for Scotland'.

She said: "We must continue to suppress this virus, it isn’t going to go away.

"As long as the virus is a risk we can’t mitigate with treatment or a vaccine.

"The new normal is going to be with us for some time."

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, MSP for Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley, said just under 20,000 people had volunteered to help the care sector, 3,000 of whom have previous experience.

Ms Freeman said 234 volunteers have already been deployed with a further 305 ready to go.

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