The number of people who have died from coronavirus in Ayrshire has increased by six, the latest data from the National Records of Scotland shows.

Last week we reported how four people in Ayrshire were reported as having died where coronavirus was recorded on the death certificate.

This week's figures, published earlier today, cover the period from March 22-28 and show an increase of two in the number of weekly deaths, with six people reported to have lost their lives in the three Ayrshire council areas.

Although there was a slight increase it is still the second lowest number of weekly deaths since the first week of October, last week being the only one with a lower total recorded.

North Ayrshire has recorded zero deaths for the first time since the first week of October.

In East Ayrshire there were five people who died, an increase from one the previous week.

And in South Ayrshire, where zero deaths were recorded last week, one person has reportedly died from the virus.

It means that 891 people in Ayrshire have now died where coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate since the beginning of the pandemic.

Nationwide 9,958 deaths have been registered where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate.

In the week March 22-28, 61 deaths were registered across the country, a decrease of five deaths from the previous week.

The majority of deaths occurred in hospitals, representing 43 deaths, with 13 deaths at home or in non-institutional settings and five deaths in care homes.

Around half of deaths were people aged 75 and over, representing 32 deaths, and 13 deaths of those aged under 65.

Deaths from all causes are below average for this time of year for the third week in succession. There were 33 fewer deaths when compared with the five year average.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “It is welcome to report that this is the ninth week in succession where we have seen a fall in the number of COVID-related deaths and it’s the third where there were fewer deaths from all causes, in comparison with the five-year average”.