South Ayrshire’s weekly Covid totals have shot up, as the first case of the Omicron variant of Covid was detected in Ayrshire.

Last week we reported there had been 299 cases in the area between November 20-26, but now, the latest data shows that in the most recent week (November 26-December 2) there were 417 positive tests returned.

It comes as the Omicron variant spreads around the UK with more and more cases being detected everyday.

On Monday, December 6, the Scottish Government confirmed that the first case of Omicron in Ayrshire has been confirmed.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran have been contacted for comment but news only broke of this as we were going to print so have not yet responded.

Last week, the Scottish Government confirmed that it was taking the Joint Commission on Vaccine and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice and reducing the amount of time people will have to wait between Covid jags.

The wait after a second dose is being cut from six to three months.

Children aged 12 to 15 will also now be invited for a second jab.

On vaccines, in South Ayrshire, 95 per cent of those aged 12 and above have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, 87.6 per cent have had two and 47.6 per cent have now had three doses.

Also, international travel rules have been adjusted slightly so that travellers coming to the UK will now have to book a pre-departure lateral flow or PCR test before arriving in the UK as well as completing their two days of isolation pending a negative result from a PCR test to be taken after arrival.