THE decrease in coronavirus that East Lothian saw last week has been replaced by a third day of rising cases – and the fourth death in the county this year.
East Lothian’s figures are the only ones in the Lothian healthboard area to have increased over the past 24 hours.
The latest data from Public Health Scotland today (Tuesday) shows that between January 10 and 16, the county recorded 120 positive cases of Covid-19. The seven-day positive rate per 100,000 of the population during this same time was sitting at 112.1.
This is the third day in a row that figures have increased in East Lothian.
One further death was also recorded last Thursday (January 14), bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths in East Lothian this year so far to four.
Despite this recent increase in the latest figures, East Lothian’s remain the sixth lowest in Scotland.
East Lothian’s position compared to the other areas in the Lothian healthboard area remains the same, the second lowest.
By comparison, Edinburgh’s seven-day positive rate per 100,000 people is currently sitting at 137.0, Midlothian’s at 100.6 and Midlothian’s at 139.3; all are a decrease compared to the figures reported yesterday.
In East Lothian, three parts of the county are now listed as areas of concern with seven-day positive rates per 100,000 people between 200 and 399, an increase of one from yesterday: Musselburgh North (16 cases), Tranent North (27 cases) and now Wallyford/Whitecraig (14 cases).
While Tranent North has recorded the highest number of positive Covid-19 cases in the whole of East Lothian, Tranent South is at the other end of the scale and recorded fewer than two in the seven days up to January 16.
Also recording fewer than two cases each during this time were Musselburgh West, Musselburgh South, Prestonpans East, Haddington South, North Berwick North and Dunbar West.
Pinkie Braes was also on this list yesterday but, due to an increase in cases, it has seen its seven-day positive rate per 100,000 people increase to between 100 and 299.
Also recording a seven-day positive rate per 100,000 people between 100 and 299 are Ormiston (four cases), Haddington Rural (nine cases), Gullane and Drem (seven cases), and North Berwick South.
The rest of East Lothian (Musselburgh East, Prestonpans West, Cockenzie, Longniddry and Aberlady, Haddington North, East Linton and Rural, and Dunbar East) recorded a seven-day positive rate per 100,000 of the population between 50 and 99.
Across Scotland today, a total of 1,165 positive cases of the virus were recorded, 264 fewer than yesterday, representing 11.4 per cent of all tests carried out yesterday.
A total of 1,989 people are currently in hospital, 30 more than yesterday, and 150 are in intensive care, four more than yesterday.
Sadly, a further 71 deaths were recorded among those who had previously tested positive.
A total of 284,582 people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, up 19,591 from yesterday, and 3,886 people have received their second dose, an increase of 188 in the past 24 hours.
SEE MORE: Coronavirus in East Lothian - here is where the figures stand after the weekend
SEE MORE: Six key points you need to know as lockdown extended in Scotland
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament earlier this afternoon, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that lockdown restrictions were going to remain in place until at least the middle of February.
Schools are also going to remain closed to most pupils for the same length of time.
All of the restrictions will be reviewed on February 2.
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