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Covid cases: the 10 areas of Scotland with the highest rates of coronavirus as Omicron restrictions eased

Coronavirus cases are now falling in every part of Scotland, official figures show, but much of this fall could be down to a change in testing.

Some parts of Scotland are still experiencing far higher coronavirus rates than others, figures show.

South Lanarkshire recorded a case rate six times higher than that seen in the Shetland Islands.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this week announced that restrictions brought in across Scotland to deal with the Omicron wave will end on Monday.

This will see nightclubs reopen and social distancing requirements in hospitality venues end.

England’s Plan B measures are also to end next Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced.

Coronavirus cases are now falling in every part of Scotland, official figures show.

Much of this fall could be down to a change in testing.

People who get a positive lateral flow test are now no longer required to take a follow-up PCR test, in a temporary measure designed to free up testing capacity.

Unlike in England and Northern Ireland, coronavirus case numbers for Scottish council areas do not include positive lateral flow tests.

This means we would expect to see a fall in cases once fewer people were required to take PCR tests.

But a major study suggests there has been a real drop in infection rates too.

The Office for National Statistics, which randomly tests a sample of the population at regular intervals, said today that the proportion of people testing positive in Scotland fell last week.

It estimates that around 1 in 20 people had the virus in the week to January 15.

The UK Government publishes the number of cases within each local authority area in the past seven days, as well as the rate of cases per 100,000 residents.

For Scottish council areas, these figures only include positive PCR tests, not lateral flow tests.

Here are the areas of Scotland which had the highest rate of coronavirus cases in the week to January 13, the latest figures available.

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