The latest data reveals that Covid-19 infections have dropped in West Lothian as the First Minister says they are reducing nationally.
The Public Health Scotland (PHS) figures showed that there were 21 new cases in West Lothian as of January 24, 250 over the seven day period of January 16 - 22, and a new total of 5333 since the first person tested positive in the county on March 9 2020.
The 136 positive cases per 100,000 of the population in West Lothian over the week meant the county remained under the national average of 177.
We reported last Monday (January 18) that there has been 267 cases over the seven day period, representing a marginal drop in infections.
In Lothian there were 83 new cases, 1074 over the seven day period and a total of 23,576 since records began.
Scotland had 752 new cases, 9685 in a week and a total of 172, 953.
The PHS heatmap showed that the virus has been suppressed in seven of the 37 neighbourhoods in West Lothian.
There have been no Covid-19 related deaths in West Lothian in the past five days, since two were recorded on January 20.
At the daily briefing today (January 25) the First Minister said she believes that lockdown is working and cases are now declining.
Nicola Sturgeon said: “We are seeing some early evidence that these restrictions are working, which is positive.”
“We think they are starting to reduce case numbers and while it will take a bit of time yet to feed properly into admissions to hospital and ICU, we also hope that we might be starting to see some early positive signs too.”
Ms Sturgeon has also said there are “no plans” for senior secondary school pupils to repeat a year as a result of lockdown.
She added that the Government is looking at “all ways” to support young people but warned community transmission must come down further before she considers reopening schools.
