iStockCovid-19 rates across Scotland have increased slightly for the sixth week in a row, according to the latest figures.
An estimated one in 16 people are now thought to have the virus, up from one in 17 the previous week, the highest rate in the country since April.
That equates to around 6.34% of the population, an Office for National Statistics (ONS) report said.
It is thought around 334,000 people had the disease in the week ending July 7, a rise of 21,000.
It is higher than the rate in England, but around the same as those present in Northern Ireland and Wales.
ONS data shows the Omicron BA.5 variant is now the dominant strain across the UK, with around 69% of cases thought to originate from that version.
Sarah Crofts, ONS head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: “Infections are showing no signs of decreasing, with rates approaching levels last seen in March at the peak of the BA.2 wave.
“Rates have continued to increase across the UK and among all age groups. We will continue to closely monitor the data.
As of July 10, there have been a total of 15,098 deaths registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
A total of 83 deaths were recorded in that time, 22 more than the previous week.
The NHS Lothian health board area accounted for around a quarter of those, the highest rate in Scotland.
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