The latest figures on lives lost related to Covid-19 in West Dunbartonshire have been released as the area recorded the highest infection rates in the country.

Another resident has died with the coronavirus cited on the death certificate and after five fatalities were recorded in West Dunbartonshire a week earlier.

Public Health Scotland said there were 615 confirmed positive Covid tests in West Dunbartonshire in the seven days to August 21, a seven-day rate per 100,000 population of 696.2, a steep rise on last week's figure of 240.0.

It currently has the worst infection rate area in Scotland despite the roll-out of vaccines.

Yesterday, August 24, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned during a live announcement that restrictions "could return" as new Covid cases more than doubled in the past week across Scotland.

Official statistics show that between Monday, August 16 and Sunday, August 22, West Dunbartonshire recorded one death related to Covid-19.

The figure has fallen a week earlier when five deaths were registered related to Covid-19 - the joint highest across the country.

The death figure was the highest across West Dunbartonshire since February 22.

It means that the number of people who have died from Covid in West Dunbartonshire in 2021 is 73.

The total number of Covid-related deaths recorded in the area is 251 from when the pandemic began last March.

Vaccination rates are currently very high in West Dunbartonshire, with thousands of older residents 100 per cent vaccinated.

Nationally, only 3.8 per cent of those aged 55 and up not having a second dose of the vaccine.

The rest of those older age groups are fully vaccinated.

A total of 83.1 per cent of those aged 30-39 have had a first dose locally with 67.9 per cent receiving their second.

Nationally, Scotland has recorded 41 coronavirus-related deaths in the past week, the same number as the previous week.

It means that as of Sunday, 10,505 deaths have now been registered in Scotland with Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.

The National Records of Scotland statistics are published weekly and cover all deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

They differ from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government because the NRS figures include suspected or probable cases of Covid-19.