COVID cases in a single neighbourhood near Helensburgh have gone up by 700 per cent since the beginning of June, new figures have revealed.

According to data issued by Public Health Scotland (PHS), the number of confirmed positive tests in the Garelochhead area has risen from five in the week leading up to June 1 to 40 in the week to June 18.

The Garelochhead neighbourhood, as defined by PHS, is home not only to Garelochhead but to the whole of the Rosneath peninsula, and to HM Naval Base Clyde too – but the Ministry of Defence says there has been no spike in cases at the base itself.

Cases in the Garelochhead area have since fallen slightly to 21 in the week to June 21 – the latest date for which figures are available.

Across Argyll and Bute the increase is even higher – from a total of 15 cases in the week to June 1 to 171 in the week to June 21, a rise of 1,040 per cent.

The latest figures put Argyll and Bute 10th out of Scotland’s 32 council areas in terms of confirmed cases per 100,000 people – and comes after the area was briefly ‘Covid free’ during May.

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As with other parts of Scotland, and the UK, health officials in Argyll and Bute believe the so-called ‘Delta variant’ is behind the recent increase in cases – and that young and unvaccinated people are behind the “vast majority” of new cases.

Garelochhead was home to Scotland’s worst Covid hotspot thanks to an outbreak at Faslane before Christmas – but the MoD says that is not the case this time.

A spokesperson told the Advertiser: “Procedures are in place to measure Covid-19 cases among the workforce at HMNB Clyde, and there has been no spike in numbers at the Naval base.

“A very small number of personnel are self-isolating at home, but these do not account for the rise in numbers of cases reported in the Garelochhead area.”

This month has seen increases in Dunoon and Oban too, though not on the scale reported in the Garelochhead neighbourhood.

Elsewhere, Helensburgh Centre had nine confirmed cases in the week to June 21, while there were eight in Helensburgh West and Rhu, six in Helensburgh East, and four in Cowal North, which includes Arrochar and Tarbet.

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In Helensburgh and Garelochhead there have been 106 cases in June to date. There were just 10 recorded cases throughout the whole of May.

Dr Tim Allison, director of public health at NHS Highland, said it was essential that people continue to follow the Scottish Government’s guidance despite the relaxed rules.

He said: “As well as an increase in cases, we are seeing an increasing number of outbreaks in our communities. Covid-19 is spreading much more rapidly as a result of the Delta variant and because of the increase in mixing.

“Covid-19 has definitely not gone away. Not only is this rise in cases impacting on the individuals affected but multiple school classes are self-isolating, businesses across the NHS Highland area have closed due to outbreaks and there have also been impacts on our local healthcare services as a result of staff isolating.

“It is vital that we all continue to follow the Scottish Government FACTS guidance and that we all minimise contact with other people to try and reduce the spread ​whilst the rates of Covid-19 are high. Although the levels have reduced, this doesn’t mean that Covid-19 has gone away.”

As of Wednesday, 86.8 per cent of Argyll and Bute residents over the age of 18 had received their first vaccine dose, while 69.2 per cent had received their second.

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Dr Allison added: “The vaccination programme is incredibly successful but not everyone has been vaccinated and it is vital that we are cautious until everyone has had an opportunity to be vaccinated.

"Please limit your contact with other people to try to minimise the risk of further spread."

Anyone who becomes unwell is being advised to isolate immediately and seek a PCT test by booking an appointment through NHS Inform online or by calling 0800 028 2816.

Separate figures published by the National Records of Scotland on Wednesday revealed there were no Covid-related deaths in Argyll and Bute in the week to June 14 – the 13th week in a row when no such deaths have been recorded in the area.