THE Borders recorded nine coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period, according to government figures.

According to the data published by the Scottish Government at 2pm today (December 22) the reduced daily figures are being investigated by Public Health Scotland.

The total number of cases in the region since the start of the pandemic now stands at 12,128.

For the third consecutive day there are fewer than five people in hospital in the Borders with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Scotland has now recorded a total of 814,359 cases since the start of the pandemic.

Data also released at 12pm today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that in a seven-day period the region recorded one coronavirus-related death.

The figures cover December 13-19.

The total number of deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate this year in the region is 107.

In the week before December 13 the region had recorded four deaths by this measure.

The total since the start of the pandemic stands at 211 in the Borders.