Confirmed Covid cases in Helensburgh are falling, according to the latest government data – in contrast to an increase in cases for Argyll and Bute, and Scotland as a whole.

According to Public Health Scotland there were 1,364 confirmed positive cases in Argyll and Bute in the week to March 12, giving an infection rate of 1,596.6 cases per 100,000 people.

That compares with 1,123 confirmed cases for the week to March 5, and an infection rate of 1,314.5.

In Helensburgh itself, however, case numbers are falling in several neighbourhoods.

In Helensburgh East the rolling seven-day total of positive cases fell from 112 for the week to March 5 to just 67 for the week to March 12.

In Helensburgh West and Rhu there was also a significant fall, from 71 cases to 48, over the same period, while Helensburgh Centre saw a slight drop from 39 cases to 36.

Elsewhere, however, there were increases in Lomond Shore – covering Cardross as well as the west shore of Loch Lomond – from 46 to 55, and in Garelochhead, including the Rosneath peninsula and HM Naval Base Clyde, from 68 to 69.

According to PHS, 85.2 per cent of Argyll and Bute’s over-18s are now fully vaccinated.

However, there are no further drop-in vaccination clinics scheduled for Helensburgh and Lomond until at least the end of March – the latest date given on the vaccination programme at NHS Highland’s website.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday that many of the legal restrictions in place to prevent the spread of Covid will be lifted as planned over the next few weeks – but that the spike in national case numbers means the requirement to wear a mask on public transport and most indoor public spaces will continue until at least early April.