The number of people in Ayrshire who have died where coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate in the last week is at the lowest level seen in seven months, according to new figures from the National Records of Scotland.

Sadly, two people lost their lives to the virus between April 19-25, which is down from four the week before.

The last time a lower weekly death total was recorded in Ayrshire was on October 5, 2020, when there was one death from COVID.

One of those who lost their life in the last week was in North Ayrshire and the other was in East Ayrshire.

As of April 25, 10,078 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.

In the week April 19-25, 23 deaths were registered that mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, a decrease of one death from the previous week.

There were seven deaths in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area, four in Lanarkshire and three in both Lothian and Tayside.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “The latest figures show another slight reduction in deaths where COVID-19 has been the underlying cause or a contributory factor, but every single death remains a tragedy. We know families, friends, and communities across the country are still being affected by the loss of loved ones due to this virus.

“Of these deaths, a majority of 18 occurred in hospitals with three deaths in care homes, and two deaths occurring at home or in non-institutional settings.

“The 1,103 deaths from all causes registered last week remains slightly above the five year average, an increase of three per cent compared to 2015-2019.”