THE rate of coronavirus case numbers in Argyll and Bute has almost doubled over the last two weeks.
The troubling trend is revealed in Public Health Scotland data which shows that the seven day positivity rate per 100,000 population in the region has risen from 55.9 during January 18-24, to 107.1 in the week up to Monday, February 8 - the most recent set of figures available.
Across Scotland as a whole there were 6,213 positive Covid-19 cases recorded in the week to February 7, equating to a test positivity rate of 5.7 per cent. This is down from 7,277 cases the previous week, and a test positivity rate of 6.5 per cent.
In Argyll and Bute specifically, between January 18-24, there were 48 positive cases, a test positivity rate of 3.6 per cent and a seven day positivity rate per 100,000 population of 55.9.
The latter rate rose to 85.0 over the following week, with 73 new cases recorded and a test positivity rate of 4.8 per cent.
READ MORE: Latest Covid death toll in Argyll and Bute revealed
And in the most recent set of figures, for the week up to February 7, there were 90 positive cases across the region, a test positivity rate of 6.1 per cent.
Three weeks ago, in Lomond Shore, Helensburgh East and Helensburgh Centre, the seven day rate was noted as “suppressed” by Public Health Scotland due to fewer than three positive cases being recorded in each of those areas.
However, in the seven days up to February 7, the rates per 100,000 population for the same areas are among the highest in the country, at 337.2 for Lomond Shore, while Helensburgh North's rate was 332.2.
More than three-quarters (70 out of 90) of the positive cases recorded in Argyll and Bute over the seven days to February 7 came in Helensburgh and Lomond.
The worst affected areas are Helensburgh North, Lomond Shore, and Garelochhead (covering the entire Rosneath peninsula).
The rise in case numbers has seen Argyll and Bute shoot up the rankings of Scottish council areas: having previously been among the lowest for cases per 100,000 people, with only Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles having a lower rate, Argyll and Bute is now ranked 16th of the country's 32 local authorities, with higher rates than areas such as Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
A further three deaths have been recorded in Argyll and Bute where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate, taking the region’s toll since the start of the pandemic to 94.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here