FOUR residents lost their lives to Covid-19 in the past week as the infection rate continues to slow.

The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed the total number of deaths certificates citing the coronavirus stands at 158 in West Dunbartonshire.

Infection rates for the seven days up to November have fallen to 96.7 per 100,000 after 86 positive tests.

Current Level 4 restrictions are currently due to end on December 11 after they were intended to slow the spread of the virus.

Last week, health and social care chiefs confirmed last week that the majority of care homes - eight in total - were rated green, or Covid-free. But four homes were classed as amber, meaning they have a "small number" of positive cases.

Clydebank Post:

The specific homes were not identified in the briefing to members of the health and social care partnership (HSCP) last week and they were not named by council bosses or the Care Inspectorate.

It comes months on from half of all Covid-19 lives lost in the area happening in care homes.

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At the HSCP meeting last week, Beth Culshaw confirmed the care home infections, but also said the rate of coronavirus cases had fallen.

She said as of November 26, the rate was 122 cases per 100,000 population. But that was down from 220 per 100,000 at the virus's peak, and 188 per 100,000 across the whole NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

It has since fallen further.

Ms Culshaw said: "That's moving in a steady decrease over the last two or three weeks.

"We are making some improvement and let's hope it continues. Everything seems to be moving in the right direction. There are huge uncertainties around it."

Some localised pockets in West Dunbartonshire and north-west Glasgow show fewer positive Covid-19 infections, but the rate remained too high for Scottish leaders.

Infection rates by neighbourhood can be found on the Public Health Scotland website.