TWO areas in central Fife have entered the highest category of infection rates, new data has revealed.

The Scottish Government’s neighbourhood map shows which council wards are worst hit by Covid-19 to a weekly average based on a population per 100,000 people.

For the week up to and including January 7, the most recent data available, there are two central Fife areas in the highest category of 400+ cases per 100,000 people, compared to the last few weeks when there were none.

The areas in the highest category are Lochgelly East, and Lochgelly West and Lumphinnans.

In the second highest category, with an infection rate of 200 – 399 infections per 100,000 people, are Cowdenbeath North, Cowdenbeath South, Hill of Beath and Kingseat, Lochore and Crosshill, and Thornton and Kinglassie.

The third category – 100 – 199 infections – features Ballingry, Crossgates and Halbeath, Kelty East, and Kelty West.

Cardenden is the only area with 50-99 infections per 100,000 people.

For the first time in a number of weeks, there are no central Fife areas in the bottom “suppressed” category, showing the rise of the virus throughout Fife.

The worst hit area is Lochgelly East which recorded 25 positive cases in the week available. That’s compared to Cardenden which recorded the highest last week with 17.

Across the whole of Fife there is a seven day positivity rate of 9.9 per cent, the same as the week before.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) outline that a positive percentage over five is “out of control”.