The latest data from Public Health Scotland shows that Covid cases in East Renfrewshire are continuing to soar.

Today's update of local case numbers is the first of the new year and shows that for the seven days up to and including January 2, 349 people tested positive for the virus across the local authority.

This is compared to the previous week-long period of December 20 to December 26, when the number of positive tested cases was 175.

It means the rate of positive cases per 100,000 of population, a key indicator used by the government for deciding on lockdown restrictions, increased from 183.2 to 365.3 and was significantly higher than the Scottish rate of 279.7.

East Renfrewshire is one of 17 local authorities with a rate between 200 and 399, while five council areas, including neighbouring Renfrewshire, have a rate in excess of 400.

The seven-day test positivity rate, which calculates the percentage of people positive from the number of tests carried out, has also jumped in East Renfrewshire from 8.3% to 14%.

Within the local authority, seven neighbourhoods have a seven-day rate per 100,000 greater than 400, shown as the darkest shade of purple possible on the map.

These are Arthurlie and Gateside; Auchenback; Busby; Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall; Lower Whitecraigs and South Giffnock; Neilston and Uplawmoor; and South Thornliebank and Woodfarm.

Eight neighbourhoods, meanwhile, have a rate of 200 to 399 cases per 100,000 of population, shown as the second darkest shade of purple.

These are Crookfur and Fruin; Cross Stobbs; Mearns Village, Westacres and Greenfarm; Merrylee and Braidbar; North Giffnock and North Thornliebank; North Kirkhill, Stamperland; and Williamwood.

Clarkston and Sheddens; Eaglesham and Waterfoot; and Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill have a rate between 100 and 199, while Netherlee as well as Whitecraigs and Broom have a rate between 50 and 99.

Unlike previous weeks, no neighbourhoods have case numbers as low as zero, one or two.

These are usually shown as white on the map indicating that the virus is considered to be suppressed during the period in question.