The number of Covid patients in Ayrshire hospitals has hit its lowest level in five months, new figures show.
Daily hospital data, released by the Scottish Government, shows there are currently 36 in-patients being cared for by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
The last time the health board recorded a number was low was on October 14 last year.
The picture in the area's intensive care units is similarly encouraging with fewer than five patients receiving specialist treatment.
In the last 24 hours, a further 51 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Ayrshire although no new new deaths have been reported.
Across Scotland, a further eight people have died from the virus — none of which are from Ayrshire — and 655 new cases have been diagnosed.
There are 397 covid patients in hospitals across the country; 35 in ICU.
A total of 2,066,460 people have now received the first dose of the Covid vaccination with 201,435 having received their second dose.
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
