FIVE new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the Borders over the last 24 hours, according to the Scottish Government.

Since the pandemic began in March, a total of 677 cases have been identified in the region.

At the moment, the number of patients in hospital with the virus in the Borders has increased to seven.

Nationally, in the last 24 hours, a total of 1,327 people have tested positive and there have been 25 further deaths of people who tested positive in the last 28 days.

Across Scotland, there have been 59,201 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, with a total of 2,726 deaths.

Yesterday (Monday) in the Borders, the local health board announced that 17 people have tested positive in an outbreak in Jedburgh.

Meanwhile, council chief Shona Haslam says the region is being lined up for Tier 2 of the Scottish Government's local local system.