Covid cases are continuing to boom in Renfrewshire, with new figures revealing levels of the virus have soared to a new high.
Data from Public Health Scotland shows that a whopping 666 cases were diagnosed over the seven days until July 9.
The seven day positive case rate for Renfrewshire between July 3 and 9 stood at 666 - giving a seven day positivity rate of 371.3 per 100,000 population.
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Figures put the area well above the Scottish average seven day positivity rate of 314.7 per 100,000 population.
There were 17,201 positive cases confirmed in Scotland over the week-long spell.
The spike in cases of the virus, fuelled by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub variants, has also been blamed for putting struggling NHS services under increasing pressure.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chiefs have warned that patients face "long waits" at A&E departments after the fresh surge put additional pressure on staff and services.
Their acute hospital sites, which includes Paisley's Royal Alexandra, were last week operating at more than 90 per cent capacity, with warnings that staff were also being hit by covid.
Patients were urged not to visit A&E unless it was "vital" as workers battled to shore up services.
Figures this week also show that emergency department performance at the Corsebar Road hospital this week dropped to 53 per cent against the Scottish Government's four-hour waiting time target.
Yesterday, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said increasing cases in the community is continuing to hit health services.
A spokesman said : "With an increase in community transmission, COVID-19 is still very much with us. Our hospitals are near capacity, with large numbers of patients admitted to hospital – either as a direct result of the virus, or admitted for another illness but having tested positive with no symptoms.
"This is putting significant pressure on capacity and available bed numbers and is having a significant impact on our A&E Departments and assessment units. COVID-19 has also created staffing challenges, with some colleagues absent as a result of the virus."
He added: "The rise in Covid-19 patient numbers and staffing challenges is further compounded by the difficulties we face due to patients with a delayed discharge, which we are working hard to resolve.
"We are sorry if anyone experiences in a delay in being treated and we are reminding the public not to come to A&E unless suffering from a very urgent or life-threatening condition. Everyone else who thinks they need urgent medical attention should speak to their GP first, or, call NHS24 on 111.
Cases of the virus have increased as summer continues, up from the 640 confirmed in the week until July 1 - a seven positivity rate of 356.8 per 100,000 population.
In East Renfrewshire, 347 cases were confirmed in the week until July 9 - a seven-day positivity rate of 361.2 per 100,000.
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