A 'DRAMATIC' increase in Covid-19 rates has been reported by NHS Dumfries & Galloway.

In the week ending January 3 a total of 801 new cases were identified, up from 122 the week before.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway chief executive Jeff Ace said: “This is a worrying situation, as we know with the trajectory of cases means things are almost certain to get worse before they get better.

“The situation could grow considerably worse, given that these current figures do not account for the further rate of increase we may see resulting from increased socialising on Christmas Day.

“What the current situation means is that we all have to go even further in not just following the national directions around face coverings and hand hygiene, but also in really limiting our interactions – as this is how Covid-19 spreads, and we know the new variant doesn’t allow any margin of error."

In the week ending January 3 a total of 5721 Covid-19 tests were carried out.

In addition to the 801 new positive cases, a total of 1970 close contacts were advised to self-isolate.

As at December 28, the overall seven day positivity rate was 536.1 per 100,000, compared to 65.2 the previous week.