Covid situation a 'mixed bag' in the North East

A close watch continues to be kept on Covid data on the North East.

The region's local authorities remained in Level 2 of restrictions earlier this week despite rising levels in both Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire.

News of more outbreaks across the region has continued, but the Scottish Government are still trying to get to the bottom of just how much community transmission is taking place, and how many cases are isolated and managed outbreaks.

Another review of the levels will take place next Tuesday.

At today's briefing, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:

"We are monitoring those cases very closely, the data indicates that there is a greater problem in Aberdeenshire, rather than Aberdeen City."

He later passed on to National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch, who said:

"Aberdeen City is a little bit of a mixed picture"

"For example, if you just look at the last week of data, the number of cases (In Aberdeen City) is down 29% but has increased in four of the seven days."

"It's very important to look over time, in terms of the prevalence of this virus."

"It is not universal good news, in Aberdeenshire, I'm afraid it's not such a mixed picture - everything is up"

"Case level is 21% up in the last seven days, and there have been increases in the next seven days."