Today's Public Health Scotland Covid infection rate…

Today's Public Health Scotland Covid infection rate data for every council region as 771 people battle disease in hospital

More coronavirus patients are currently in hospitals in Ayrshire than at any other time in the last five months, new figures show.

Latest data published today by the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland shows there are 44 people being treated for the disease in the region's hospitals – the highest figure since March 14 when there 48 Covid patients.

A further 19 people have been admitted to hospitals since Friday while the number of patients in Ayrshire ICUs has risen by one to six – the highest number since February 26.

The news comes as a further 535 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Ayrshire in the last 24 hours among 7,065 nationwide.

There are 771 Covid patients in Scottish hospitals – up 118 since Friday – while the number of people battling the virus in ICUs is 71; up 11 over the same period.

No new deaths have been recorded meaning Scotland's Covid death toll now stands at 8,165.

The number of Covid hospital patients in Ayrshire has risen again (PA)

However, 10,554 deaths have been registered in Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to Sunday, August 29.

In terms of Public Health Scotland's rolling seven-day infection rate per 100,000 population, North Lanarkshire has the highest rate in the country – at 1,252.6 as of Sunday, September 5.

Inverclyde has the second-highest infection rate at 1,228.9 while West Dunbartonshire is third with 1,178.4.

In terms of Ayrshire's three local authorities, North Ayrshire has the highest rate of 812.7 while South Ayrshire's rate is 684.9 and East Ayrshire's is 682.6

Of the 535 new cases of Covid were reported in Ayrshire, 238 were in North Ayrshire, 153 in East Ayrshire and 144 in South Ayrshire.