Cases of covid-19 in Largs remain among the lowest in North Ayrshire despite a spike overall across the authority.

From December 27 to January 2, a total of 433 cases were confirmed across North Ayrshire, with a test positivity rate of 12.4 per cent.

In comparison, in the week prior from December 21 to 27, North Ayrshire saw a positivity rate of eight percent, and 240 recorded cases.

Between December 27 and January 2, Largs accounted for three of the lowest seven areas for confirmed cases in the authority.

West Kilbride and Seamill also has among the lowest case rates, however Fairlie, Skelmorlie and their surrounding areas have seen higher rates of cases between December 27 and January 2.

Largs North had the lowest case rate in the whole of North Ayrshire for the last recorded week, with between 0 and 2 cases and the rate supressed for patient confidentiality.

Largs South, and Largs Central and Cumbrae, saw five and six cases confirmed respectively, with a case rate of between 100 and 199 per 100,000.

West Kilbride and Seamill recorded eight cases in the same period, also with a rate of between 100 and 199, the fourth lowest in North Ayrshire.

Skelmorlie and the surrounding rural area recorded six cases in the previous seven-day reporting period, a rate of between 200 and 399 per 100,000 of the population.

Fairlie and its surrounding area confirmed eight cases in the same period, a rate the same as Skelmorlie.

Across North Ayrshire, 14 areas have case rates of more than 400 per 100,000 of the population, including areas of Kilwinning, Irvine and Saltcoats.

North Ayrshire’s current case rate of 321.4 per 100,000 is the ninth highest of any authority in Scotland.

Nearby East Ayrshire has a case rate of 366.4, while South Ayrshire is much lower with a rate of 214 per 100,000.

Neighbouring Inverclyde has the highest rate of any authority in Scotland, with 578.4 confirmed cases per 100,000 of the population in the last recorded week.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed in her latest briefing to the Scottish Parliament that NHS Ayrshire and Arran is currently at 96 per cent of its covid-19 capacity.