THE number of confirmed Covid cases are starting to decline in Fife and we could be in tier 2 by Christmas.

That's the early festive message from Green MSP Mark Ruskell who said restrictions are working but we can't let our guard down yet.

He said: "It’s reassuring to see that the higher level of restrictions in Fife are starting to have an impact, and that’s really down to people sticking with the rules and staying at home.

If Fife’s cases continue to decline, I’m hopeful the area will be in level 2 by Christmas, but to do so everyone will need to stay vigilant and stick with the rules for just a little longer.”

Mr Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, expressed his Christmas wish after discussing the restrictions in the Kingdom with National Clinical Director Jason Leitch in the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 committee.

He confirmed that cases were starting to decline and that Fife was "beginning to turn the corner" with cases down 27 per cent in the last seven days.

Mr Ruskell said the county was now below the Scottish average of 120 cases per 100,000 people but warned that there would need to be a consistent decline over a longer period before it could move back down to level 2.