CORONAVIRUS cases in East Lothian are declining from their record-breaking peak at the beginning of the year, according to data from Public Health Scotland.

It comes as Nicola Sturgeon announced that current restrictions on pubs, nightclubs and indoor events will be scrapped from Monday as Scotland enters a "calmer phase" of the pandemic.

The First Minister said there was "renewed optimism" with Covid cases and hospital admissions now in decline, as she confirmed that the Scottish Government will not expand the need for vaccine passports to hospitality businesses.

From Monday, table service will no longer be mandatory in pubs and restaurants can return to full capacity without physical distancing.

Between January 9 and 15, 743 positive cases of the virus were recorded in the county, giving a seven-day positive rate per 100,000 people of 688.6.

A week earlier, between January 2 and 8, 1,573 cases of Covid-19 were recorded in East Lothian – a seven-day positive rate per 100,000 people of 1,457.8.

By comparison, Midlothian's current seven-day positive rate per 100,000 people is 625.9, West Lothian’s 533.7 and Edinburgh’s 617.5.

The current area of concern in East Lothian is Wallyford/Whitecraig with 71 cases of Covid recorded, giving it a seven-day positive rate of 994.8.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of East Lothian residents have now received a booster or third coronavirus vaccine.

As of today (Tuesday), 67,799 people over the age of 18 have received their third dose of a coronavirus vaccine. This equals 78.9 per cent of the population.

A total of 80,991 people have received their second dose, or 94.2 per cent of the population.

Almost all over-18s in East Lothian have received at least one dose – 83,618 people or 97.3 per cent.