THIRTEEN of Scotland’s local authority areas are seeing record levels of Covid-19 cases, new figures have revealed.
The impact of the highly infectious Omicron variant has begun to show clearly in Public Health Scotland’s data.
The National analysed the highest number of daily reported positive cases by each local authority from February 2020, the earliest available, to date.
Our examination found a staggering 13 local authority areas have, in recent days, reported the highest number of daily cases during the pandemic so far.
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It comes as daily coronavirus cases in Scotland hit a record high for the second consecutive day, at 16,857.
Although Glasgow City had the highest number of positive cases on December 30 (2269), the area has a denser population and regularly has a larger figure than elsewhere in Scotland. However, the highest number of cases in Glasgow reached 2272 on December 27, showing just a small drop in a number of days.
Elsewhere, North Lanarkshire recorded 1522 positive cases on December 30, the previous peak was 1446 on December 27.
Fife also reported peak case numbers with 1084 positive results, up from 1006 on December 27.
Cases in Perth and Kinross jumped from a previous record high of 393 on December 27, to 536 daily cases on December 30, while East Dunbartonshire’s previous record of 456 on December 27, was overtaken with 506 cases reported on Thursday.
Use our interactive map below to see if your area has reported record numbers of positive cases.
Inverclyde reported 463 daily positive cases (up from 320 on December 27), Moray logged 449 positive cases (up from 345 on 28 December) and Dundee City reported 428 cases (up from 379 on December 27).
Both East and North Ayrshire local authority areas saw record highs this week. In East Ayrshire, a record 415 daily cases were reported, compared to 350 cases on December 27, and in North Ayrshire cases jumped to 379 positives in a single day, up from 302 on December 28.
And the rise continued on the east coast with Midlothian reporting 330 new positive cases (up from 324 on December 27), East Lothian reporting 329 cases (up from 219 on December 27) and Angus logging 247 positive new cases (up from 219 on December 27).
Shetland also reached a record number, with 35 positive cases reported in a single day, up one from the previous record of 34 on November 17.
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It comes as the First Minister addressed the rise in numbers of people in hospital with the virus in Scotland, which jumped by 131 to 810 in 24 hours.
She said on Twitter: “Yet another record tally of reported cases in today – reflecting fact that Omicron is very, very infectious.
“Likelihood of getting it just now if you mix with others is high. Tho remember – being boosted gives you significant protection against becoming v ill with it.
Scots have been urged to get their booster jabs as soon as possible
“Just as notable than cases is the steep rise in hospital occupancy, the largest single day increase in a while – a reminder that even if there is a lower % hospitalised through Omicron, sheer volume will still put acute pressure on NHS – and result in serious illness for many.
“Concerning those these numbers are, they would be even higher but for good compliance with public health advice.
“As we approach the New Year, I am appealing to everyone to keep following this advice – for you own sake and also to help the NHS.”
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
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